Two Kanpur friends who built dreams together die together in Lucknow building fire

KANPUR: The devastating fire at a Lucknow animation studio not only claimed lives but also shattered two families in Kanpur. Among the victims were close friends and colleagues, Sanyam Vij (28) and Surajbhan Singh (25), both employed as 3D artists at the studio. Their deaths have left their families inconsolable, as both young men were the primary breadwinners of their households and had overcome personal tragedies earlier in life.The two friends shared a bond that stretched back more than a decade. They studied together at Doon International School in Kanpur and later pursued an animation course at an institute in Kakadeo. Their friendship continued into their professional lives when both secured jobs at the same Lucknow-based animation company on the very same day nearly five years ago. Since then, they had worked side by side, building careers and supporting their families.The tragedy has been particularly painful for Surajbhan’s family. His father, Shivram Singh, who worked as a manager at a petrol pump in Kanpur’s Dada Nagar Industrial Area, died in 2023 after suffering severe burn injuries in a massive fire caused by a short circuit on Holi. The family had barely recovered from that loss when another fire snatched away Surajbhan, the family’s sole earning member.His mother, Meera, broke down repeatedly while recalling her final conversation with her son. She said Surajbhan had left home on Sunday after assuring her that he would return soon. “Had I known this would be the last time I saw him, I would never have let him go,” she said.Surajbhan’s younger brother, Samrat, who is pursuing an MBA, was in Rishikesh with friends when he received news of the tragedy. He immediately rushed back and was expected to reach Kanpur by Tuesday evening to participate in the last rites. Family members said preparations were also underway to find a suitable match for Surajbhan’s marriage.The loss has been equally devastating for Sanyam’s family. Just 10 days ago, the family had mourned the death of his grandmother. Her terahvin was scheduled for Tuesday, and relatives were eagerly waiting for Sanyam to return home to participate in the ceremony. Instead, news of his death reached the family before he could arrive.Sanyam’s maternal uncle, Monu Sethi, said the family had spoken to him recently and was expecting him home. “He had promised to come for his grandmother’s terahvin. We were waiting for him, but fate had other plans,” he said.Sanyam had lost his father, Pushpraj, nearly 15 years ago. Following his father’s death, he became a pillar of support for the family. His elder brother, Shubham, works in Gurugram, while relatives and neighbours thronged the family residence throughout the day to offer condolences.Surajbhan’s maternal uncle, Jitendra Singh, described both young men as hardworking and family-oriented. He said they carried the responsibility of their households on their shoulders and were committed to building a better future. Demanding a thorough investigation into the incident, he urged authorities to identify those responsible and ensure strict action.As news of the tragedy spread, several political leaders, including MP Ramesh Awasthi, BJP MLA Surendra Maithani, former MLA Balchandra Mishra and local councillors, visited the bereaved families. Kanpur Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal said senior officers had been deputed to assist the families and remain in touch with Lucknow authorities. While Sanyam’s last rites were performed on Tuesday, Surajbhan’s funeral has been scheduled after the arrival of family members travelling from outside the city.