Lucknow fire: NHRC issues notice to DM, Police Chief over Aliganj blaze that killed 18
Synopsis
The NHRC has stepped in after 18 people died in the Lucknow Aliganj building fire on 22 June, issuing notices to the District Magistrate and Police Commissioner and demanding a two-week ATR. Preliminary findings point to an air-conditioning duct as the fire's origin and the absence of an emergency exit as the reason smoke trapped students inside — a damning indictment of regulatory failure.
Key Takeaways
The NHRC has issued notices to the Lucknow District Magistrate and Commissioner of Police , seeking an Action Taken Report within two weeks .
The Aliganj building fire on 22 June killed 18 people ; two students who jumped to escape sustained serious injuries.
Preliminary forensic findings suggest the fire started in an air-conditioning duct ; the absence of an emergency exit allowed smoke to trap occupants.
A two-member SIT led by Additional Chief Secretary Amrit Abhijat and ADG Praveen Kumar is probing the incident on CM Yogi Adityanath's orders.
The UP Chief Secretary has been directed to ensure compliance with the Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centres, 2024 .
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of a complaint alleging serious fire safety lapses linked to the deadly blaze at a commercial building in Lucknow's Aliganj area on 22 June, which killed 18 people — most of them students — and left several others injured. The apex human rights body has issued notices to the Lucknow District Magistrate and the Commissioner of Police, directing them to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within two weeks.
What the NHRC Has Directed
The NHRC observed that the allegations, prima facie, indicate violations of the human rights of the victims. It directed the District Magistrate and the Commissioner of Police, Lucknow, to inquire into the allegations and furnish an ATR within two weeks.
Separately, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary has been directed to ensure strict adherence to the Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centres, 2024, issued by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, and to submit a compliance report.
What the Complaint Alleged
According to the complaint placed before the NHRC, the fire broke out at approximately 3 pm on 22 June in a multi-storey, illegally modified commercial building in Aliganj that housed a coaching centre, a library, an animation studio, and other establishments. The complainant alleged that students were trapped inside due to thick smoke, with some forced to jump from the building to escape the flames. Two students who jumped sustained serious injuries and remain under treatment.
The complaint flagged alleged violations of fire safety norms, the absence of emergency exits and evacuation systems, negligence by regulatory authorities, and a failure to ensure a safe environment for students. It also sought an independent inquiry, accountability for responsible officials, compensation for victims, and measures to prevent recurrence.
SIT Probe and Preliminary Findings
A two-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted on the directions of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has begun investigating the incident. The SIT comprises Additional Chief Secretary Amrit Abhijat and ADG (Lucknow Zone) Praveen Kumar. A forensic team has also inspected the site.
Preliminary findings suggest the fire originated in an air-conditioning duct. The absence of an emergency exit is believed to have allowed smoke to rapidly engulf the building, trapping those inside. These findings remain subject to the ongoing forensic and SIT investigations.
Broader Context
The Aliganj fire is the latest in a series of deadly blazes at coaching centres and commercial buildings across India, raising renewed questions about enforcement of fire safety regulations. The 2024 Coaching Centre Guidelines were introduced precisely to address structural and safety deficiencies in such establishments, but compliance has been uneven across states. This incident puts the spotlight squarely on regulatory oversight in Uttar Pradesh — and on how quickly accountability follows tragedy.
The NHRC's intervention signals that the human cost of lax enforcement will face institutional scrutiny. All eyes are now on the ATR that the Lucknow administration must submit within the fortnight.
Point of View
But it is also a familiar pattern: a regulatory body steps in after lives are lost, issues notices, and awaits reports. The harder question is why the Aliganj building — illegally modified, housing a coaching centre with no emergency exit — was allowed to operate in the first place. The 2024 Coaching Centre Guidelines exist precisely for situations like this; the UP government's compliance report will reveal whether those guidelines were ever enforced or merely filed. Eighteen deaths in a building that should never have passed inspection is not an accident — it is an accountability failure at multiple levels of administration.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What action has the NHRC taken in the Lucknow Aliganj fire case?
The NHRC has issued notices to the Lucknow District Magistrate and Commissioner of Police, directing them to inquire into the allegations of fire safety lapses and submit an Action Taken Report within two weeks. It has also asked the UP Chief Secretary to ensure compliance with the Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centres, 2024.
How many people died in the Lucknow Aliganj building fire?
The fire, which broke out at approximately 3 pm on 22 June in a multi-storey commercial building in Aliganj, Lucknow, claimed 18 lives. Two students who jumped from the building to escape the flames sustained serious injuries and are undergoing treatment.
What caused the Lucknow Aliganj fire?
Preliminary forensic findings suggest the fire originated in an air-conditioning duct. The absence of an emergency exit allowed smoke to rapidly engulf the building, trapping students inside. The SIT investigation is ongoing and a final cause is yet to be officially confirmed.
Who is investigating the Lucknow Aliganj fire?
A two-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted on the orders of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath — comprising Additional Chief Secretary Amrit Abhijat and ADG (Lucknow Zone) Praveen Kumar — is investigating the incident, supported by a forensic team that has already inspected the site.
What are the Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centres, 2024?
These are guidelines issued by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education to regulate the safety, structure, and operations of coaching centres across India. The NHRC has directed the UP Chief Secretary to ensure strict adherence to these guidelines in the wake of the Aliganj fire.
