Campus Times | Lucknow 

At least 14 students lost their lives after a massive fire broke out at a coaching centre operating from the upper floors of a commercial building in Lucknow’s Purnia area of Aliganj on Monday afternoon.

The blaze triggered panic among students, with several reportedly jumping from the building in a desperate attempt to escape. Rescue operations continued late into the evening amid fears that more people could have been trapped inside.

Rescue efforts intensified

Firefighters, NDRF personnel and local authorities rushed to the spot soon after the incident. Fourteen fire tenders, including a hydraulic platform vehicle, were deployed to bring the fire under control and carry out rescue operations.

According to officials, 12 people were rescued from the building, while multiple injured students were shifted to the KGMC Trauma Centre for treatment. Heavy smoke and the presence of large quantities of wooden furniture inside the premises hampered rescue efforts and reduced visibility for emergency teams.

Building housed multiple facilities

The commercial building housed a library, computer coaching centre and gaming zone. Officials said the affected institute functioned as an animation training centre where students learned digital animation and graphic design. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

PM Modi announces ex-gratia for victims

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the loss of lives and conveyed condolences to the families of the victims. He announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased victim, while those injured in the incident will receive Rs 50,000 as financial assistance.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the tragedy and cancelled his scheduled engagements in Aligarh and Hathras to personally monitor the situation in Lucknow. He directed senior officials, including the Director General of Police and the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), to visit the site and submit a detailed report.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak visited the site to oversee rescue and relief operations. He confirmed that a high-level inquiry has been ordered into the incident.