Lucknow coaching centre fire kills at least 14, high-level inquiry ordered

At least 14 people were killed and several injured when a fierce fire engulfed a coaching centre in Lucknow, with desperate students jumping from the first floor to escape the rapidly spreading blaze. The fire, one of the deadliest such incidents in Uttar Pradesh in recent years, struck during what appeared to be active class hours, leaving little time for those inside to evacuate safely.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister responded swiftly to public outrage, announcing a high-level inquiry into the tragedy. Initial reports suggest serious questions about fire safety compliance at the premises — exits, sprinkler systems, and emergency protocols are all expected to come under scrutiny in the investigation.

The incident drew immediate comparisons to a string of coaching centre and private institute fires across India in recent years, in which overcrowded, poorly ventilated and inadequately certified buildings have repeatedly proved death traps. In 2024, a basement coaching centre flood in Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar claimed three students' lives, triggering national outrage and temporary crackdowns that critics say were not sustained.

Rescue and relief teams reached the site, and the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals. Local authorities have been asked to submit a preliminary report on the fire's origin and the building's compliance status. Families of victims and student groups are demanding that those responsible for certifying the premises be held accountable, as calls grow for a nationwide audit of coaching centres operating in residential and commercial buildings without adequate safety infrastructure.