Lucknow, Jun 22: At least 13 people lost their lives after a massive fire broke out in a building housing a coaching centre in Lucknow’s Aliganj area on Monday, triggering panic among students and staff.
The blaze spread rapidly through the commercial building, trapping several people inside. Eyewitnesses said a number of students jumped from the first floor in a desperate attempt to save themselves. Some sustained serious injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Firefighters and police teams launched an extensive rescue operation, bringing the fire under control after more than an hour. Rescue personnel recovered 13 bodies from the building.
The building also housed a pet shop and several other commercial establishments. Videos from the scene showed one person falling while trying to escape through a shattered window before being rescued by bystanders.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak visited the site to review the rescue efforts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the families of each deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also conveyed his condolences and directed officials to provide all possible assistance to the victims and their families. Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the fire.
