At least five people were killed and several injured when a fire broke out at two hotels in the Charbagh area of Lucknow on Tuesday morning. Local media reports claimed more than 50 people were rescued from the flames.
The fire began at the Hotel Viraat International, located in the Doodh Mandi locality of Charbagh, around 6am, before spreading to the adjacent SSJ International Hotel. A police official said the fire started in the basement and spread to the upper floors.
Firefighters took more than two hours to douse the flames. Police expect the death toll from the fire to rise as people may still be trapped inside the two buildings.
The confirmed fatalities include a woman and child who were staying at the Viraat International.