Lucknow Fire Horror: 15 Students Dead, Several Injured in Coaching Centre Blaze

A quiet Monday afternoon turned into a scene of horror in Lucknow’s Aliganj area when a massive fire tore through a three storey commercial building , killing at least 15 students and injuring several others. The blaze broke out around 3 pm at a structure on Usha Mehta Marg that housed a pet shop, gaming zone, and coaching and animation centre , an otherwise ordinary commercial complex that, within minutes, became a deadly trap.

Eyewitnesses said thick smoke began billowing from the building before flames spread rapidly across the structure. In the ensuing panic, several students jumped from upper floors in desperate attempts to escape, with some sustaining serious injuries, including back fractures . Locals rushed to the scene and managed to pull out a few trapped individuals before conditions deteriorated further.

Fourteen fire tenders, along with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) , State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) , and civil defence, were deployed to the spot. Firefighters used ladders to reach upper floors, while another team broke access through an adjoining rooftop to rescue those trapped inside as the blaze continued to rage.

Doctors at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) confirmed that of around 21-22 students brought in after the incident, 15 were declared dead on arrival , while five others with minor injuries were admitted for treatment. Officials said the final assessment would be made after completion of rescue and search operations.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak , who visited the site, said the fire appeared to have originated in the animation centre , with students reportedly running towards the rear portion of the building in panic but unable to escape in time.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath cut short his visit to Aligarh and returned to Lucknow, ordering a detailed inquiry into the incident and later meeting the affected families at the hospital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

President Droupadi Murmu , Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan , and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed grief over the tragedy, with Yadav calling for a transparent investigation into the circumstances that led to the fire.

As night fell, distraught families gathered near the cordoned off building, anxiously awaiting news of their children, a grim reminder of how quickly an ordinary afternoon can turn into irreversible tragedy.