A massive fire broke out on Monday afternoon in a three-story commercial building housing a coaching center in Lucknow’s Aliganj area, triggering panic and a large-scale rescue operation. According to officials, the blaze erupted around 3 PM and spread rapidly through the building, trapping several students inside. Initial reports suggest that at least 15 people, mostly students, lost their lives, while over 20 others were rushed to King George’s Medical University (KGMU) for treatment. Eyewitnesses described horrifying scenes as some students were forced to jump from the upper floors to save themselves from the flames and thick smoke. More than a dozen fire tenders, along with SDRF and NDRF teams, were deployed to control the fire and rescue those trapped. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased, while Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered a high-level probe into the incident. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed, though preliminary reports indicate a possible short circuit. The incident has once again raised serious concerns over fire safety arrangements in coaching centres and commercial buildings across the state.
