Lucknow. Taking strict action in the case of Hotel Levana Suites fire in the posh Hazratganj area of Lucknow’s capital Lucknow, CM Yogi Adityanath has taken strict action against 19 employees. Lucknow Police Commissioner SB Shirodkar and Commissioner Roshan Jacob, in their investigation report, had held these officers responsible for the fire incident and for giving fire NOC to the hotel against the rules. Of those against whom action has been taken, many have retired. The names of officers and employees were written in the investigation report for illegal construction and ignoring safety standards. It is believed that more severe punishment will be given in this episode. Four people including two women were killed in the fire in Levana.
Among the officers who have been suspended and brought under departmental action are present Chief Fire Officer Vijay Kumar Singh and Fire Officer Yogendra Prasad. Both have been suspended. The then prescribed authority of Lucknow Development Authority LDA, Mahendra Mishra, along with Assistant Director of Electricity Department, Electrical Safety Vijay Kumar Rao, Under Engineer Ashish Mishra, Sub Divisional Officer Rajesh Mishra have also been suspended. Apart from these, the then Executive Engineer Arun Kumar Singh, Om Prakash Mishra, Assistant Engineer Rakesh Mohan, Junior Engineer Jitendra Nath Dubey, Ravindra Kumar Srivastava and Jaiveer Singh have also been suspended at the time of construction of the hotel. Departmental action will be taken against retired engineer Ganesh Dutt Singh. At the same time, LDA’s mate Rampratap has also been charged with suspension.
In the case of fire and deaths in Levana Suites, the then Excise Department officer Santosh Tiwari, Excise Inspector Amit Srivastava and Deputy Excise Commissioner Jainendra Upadhyay have also been placed in the list of suspended employees. In this case, a notice for demolition of the hotel has also been issued as per rules. The hotel is sealed and its owners have been arrested and sent to jail.