LUCKNOW — A fire in a commercial building in Lucknow, India, killed at least 14 people on Monday. Most of the deceased were students at a study center located on the upper floors of the structure.

The incident occurred in the Aliganj neighborhood. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak confirmed that 14 bodies were recovered from the site. The building housed a pet shop and veterinary clinic on the lower floors, while the upper levels contained the study center and an animation studio.

At least 10 individuals were rescued and transported to a hospital for treatment. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known. Videos circulating on social media showed people exiting through broken windows. One video appeared to depict a man falling from an upper floor during an escape attempt; local media reported that the man survived and was hospitalized.

Dense smoke hampered rescue operations. Firefighters gained entry to the building by breaching a rear wall. They utilized exhaust fans to clear the smoke and conducted searches of various rooms and washrooms for survivors.

Mohammad Asin, an employee at the animation studio, stated that workers had just returned from lunch when they became aware of the fire. "At first we thought it was a small fire. By the time we tried to leave, smoke had filled the rooms and passageways," Asin said.

Deadly fires are common in India, where building laws and safety norms are often flouted by builders and residents, according to background reports on the incident.