LUCKNOW, India, June 22 — The death toll from a fire at a coaching institute in Lucknow’s Aliganj area rose to 15 on Monday, with medical experts saying that most of the victims died from suffocation.
Prem Raj Singh, Medical Superintendent of King George’s Medical University (KGMU), said the victims were brought to the hospital with no signs of life.
“Fifteen people were already dead when they were brought to the hospital. The bodies have been sent to the mortuary for post-mortem examination,” Singh told ANI.
He said an additional seven to eight people were admitted for treatment.
“Two sustained minor injuries. One young man appears to have suffered a spinal injury and is currently undergoing treatment. Another young woman has a leg injury and is also being examined,” Singh said.
“All of them appear to be around 25 to 27 years old. Most of the deaths were caused by suffocation,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of life and announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
In a post on X, the Prime Minister’s Office said that the families of those killed would receive an ex gratia payment of ₹200,000, while injured victims would receive ₹50,000.
“Anguished by the loss of lives in a fire mishap in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. My condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. Rescue operations are underway, and authorities are providing all possible assistance,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also visited the site of the incident.
Addressing a gathering in Aligarh, Adityanath said he was cutting short his visit after receiving information about the tragedy.
“I have just received information regarding an incident in Lucknow. Some children have been caught in a fire incident there, resulting in their tragic deaths. While the administration is engaged in relief operations, this tragic event requires me to return to Lucknow immediately,” he said.
Expressing condolences to the bereaved families, the chief minister said, “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their young ones.”
He added that he had directed the Director General of Police and the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to visit the site and submit a report.
“We will get to the bottom of the incident and ensure the guilty are punished,” Adityanath said.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed condolences over the loss of life.
“The incident of a fire breaking out in a coaching center in Lucknow’s Aliganj area is heart-wrenching. My condolences are with all those families who have lost their loved ones in this tragedy. I also pray for the swift recovery of the injured,” Singh said in a post on X.
The fire reportedly broke out in a building housing a library and a computer training institute. According to an eyewitness, panic spread rapidly after the blaze erupted, and one person sustained serious injuries after jumping from the building while attempting to escape.
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