At least 14 people were killed and several others injured after a devastating fire broke out at a coaching centre in the Aliganj area of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday, 22 June. All the deceased were aged between 20 and 24 years, according to Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the victims.

What Happened

The blaze erupted inside a coaching centre operating on the ground floor of a three-storey building in the Purniya area of Aliganj. Thick smoke rapidly engulfed the premises, triggering panic among students and others present. Eyewitnesses reported that smoke was first spotted billowing from the building in the afternoon, and the fire spread quickly, engulfing the entire structure within a short span.

With exit routes blocked by flames and smoke, students rushed to windows and the rooftop in a desperate bid to escape. Some individuals jumped from the upper floors and the terrace, sustaining serious injuries in the process. Rescue teams, with assistance from local residents, began evacuating those trapped through the rooftop of an adjacent building. Firefighters also attempted to breach the walls of the coaching centre to reach those still inside.

Government Response

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh from the PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased, and ₹50,000 for each injured person. In a post on X, Modi said: 'Anguished by the loss of lives in a fire mishap in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. My condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest.'

Defence Minister and Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh also offered condolences via a post on X, calling the incident 'heart-wrenching' and praying for the swift recovery of the injured. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath cut short his visit to Aligarh and returned to Lucknow. He described the fire as 'extremely tragic and heart-rending' and expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families in a post on X.

Rescue and Relief Operations

Fire brigade units, police, and district administration teams reached the site promptly. Senior officials including the District Magistrate and Police Commissioner were present on the ground to supervise rescue and relief operations. Several injured persons were admitted to different hospitals across the city. Rescue efforts were still continuing as of the latest reports.

Cause Under Investigation

The cause of the fire had not been ascertained at the time of reporting, according to officials. This incident comes amid recurring concerns over fire safety compliance in commercial and educational buildings across Indian cities, where coaching centres frequently operate in densely packed multi-storey structures with limited emergency exits. The Lucknow tragedy is the latest in a series of fatal coaching centre fires that have drawn attention to the urgent need for stricter enforcement of building safety norms.