15 Killed in Fire at Lucknow Coaching Centre, Students Jump From Building to Escape

A fire that broke out at a coaching centre in Lucknow on Monday killed at least 15 people, with several students forced to jump from the first floor to escape the blaze, according to multiple reports from NDTV and Hindustan Times. The fire spread quickly through the building, trapping students who had little time to evacuate through conventional exits.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as young students leaped from the upper floor to avoid the flames. Emergency responders arrived at the site and worked to bring the blaze under control, with rescue operations continuing as the scale of casualties became clear. Several injured were rushed to nearby hospitals.

The tragedy has drawn sharp attention to the chronic problem of fire safety violations at coaching institutes, tuition centres, and commercial educational establishments across Indian cities. Many such buildings operate out of converted residential or commercial premises with inadequate emergency exits, no sprinkler systems, and unchecked electrical wiring — a combination that repeatedly proves fatal.

Authorities have indicated that an inquiry into the cause of the fire and the building's compliance with safety regulations has been initiated. The incident is likely to prompt demands for immediate inspections of coaching centres in Lucknow and other major cities, where cramped, overcrowded classrooms are a common feature of the booming private education industry.