Lucknow, June 22 (ANI): A devastating fire at a coaching institute building in Lucknow’s Aliganj area claimed the lives of 14 students and left several others injured on Monday, triggering widespread grief across the country and prompting the Uttar Pradesh government to order a high-level investigation into the tragedy.
The blaze broke out in a multi-purpose commercial building that housed a coaching centre, an animation training institute, a library, a computer training facility, and a pet shop. Thick smoke rapidly engulfed the premises, trapping several students inside and sparking a large-scale rescue operation involving fire brigade personnel, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, and local residents.
Initially, officials feared that 10 to 12 people were trapped inside the building. Firefighters struggled to enter due to the intensity of the flames and dense smoke. Rescue teams eventually gained access by breaking through a wall on the second floor of an adjacent building and conducted a room-by-room search, including washrooms and upper floors.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who visited the site, confirmed that 14 children had lost their lives while four others sustained serious injuries and were admitted to the King George’s Medical University (KGMU) Trauma Centre. He stated that authorities had completed the search operation and confirmed that no one remained trapped inside.
“Our priority is providing the best possible treatment to the injured. The exact cause of the fire will be determined after the inquiry report. Strict action will be taken against those found responsible,” Pathak said.
Describing the challenging rescue efforts, he noted that heavy smoke generated by wooden furniture inside the building severely hampered visibility. Fire brigade teams used exhaust fans to clear smoke while conducting exhaustive searches throughout the structure.
According to eyewitnesses, panic spread quickly after the fire erupted. Local resident Aman said that thick smoke billowed from the building and that residents managed to rescue five to six people before emergency teams arrived.
“There is a library or a computer course institution here. When we reached the spot, we saw thick smoke coming from the building. We managed to save five or six people. One man jumped from the building in panic and was seriously injured,” he said.
Medical officials reported that the injured are receiving treatment and are currently out of danger. KGMU spokesperson Dr. K.K. Singh said that multiple victims were brought to the hospital following the incident.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was attending a programme in Aligarh, immediately cut short his visit and returned to Lucknow after receiving news of the tragedy. Expressing deep sorrow, he directed the Director General of Police and the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to personally investigate the incident and submit a detailed report.
“We will get to the bottom of the incident and ensure that those responsible are punished,” the Chief Minister said, while assuring full support to the affected families.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced ex-gratia assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. The families of each deceased victim will receive Rs 2 lakh, while those injured will be provided Rs 50,000.
President Droupadi Murmu described the tragedy as “extremely heartbreaking” and extended her condolences to the bereaved families. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also expressed sorrow and called for support to the victims and their families.
Meanwhile, rescue teams also evacuated animals, including cats, from the pet shop located within the building.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire. The state government has ordered a high-level inquiry to establish the circumstances leading to the tragedy and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The incident ranks among the deadliest educational institution fire tragedies in recent years and has raised serious concerns over fire safety compliance in coaching centres and commercial training establishments across the state. (ANI)
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