Lucknow Coaching Centre Fire Exposes Critical Safety Gaps; 14 Killed

At least 14 people were killed after a massive fire broke out at a building housing a coaching centre in Lucknow's Aliganj area on Monday, triggering panic and a large-scale rescue operation. Several students and staff members were trapped inside as the flames spread rapidly through the premises. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos, with some students jumping from the first floor in desperate attempts to escape the blaze and save their lives.

The fire erupted in the busy commercial area during operational hours and quickly engulfed parts of the building. The structure also housed a pet shop and several other establishments, complicating evacuation efforts. Thick smoke billowed from the building as firefighters rushed to the scene. Visuals from the area showed people attempting to flee through windows and balconies while emergency personnel worked to bring the situation under control.

According to officials, the blaze continued for more than an hour before firefighters managed to contain it. Following the firefighting operation, rescue teams entered the damaged structure and recovered at least 14 bodies. Authorities fear that the death toll could rise if more victims are found during detailed searches of the building. Several injured individuals were also shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the tragedy and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh for the families of each deceased victim. The Prime Minister also extended condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incident. The announcement came shortly after reports confirmed the scale of the disaster.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also conveyed his condolences and directed senior officials to remain in constant contact with affected families. He instructed authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for those injured and ordered all necessary assistance for victims and their relatives. The state government has begun assessing the circumstances that led to the devastating fire.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak visited the site and described the incident as deeply tragic, stating that he had personally seen the bodies recovered from the building. He assured that strict action would be taken against those found responsible and said there would be no leniency if negligence or violations were discovered. Officials are expected to conduct a detailed investigation into the cause of the fire, safety measures at the coaching centre and possible lapses that may have contributed to the loss of life.

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