Uttar Pradesh inspects over 100 coaching centres after Lucknow fire tragedy

Days after a deadly fire at a coaching centre in Lucknow’s Aliganj, the Uttar Pradesh government has launched statewide inspections of coaching institutes for building safety violations. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) also began its probe into the incident on Tuesday.

Joint teams from the administration, police, fire services, development authorities and electrical safety departments carried out inspections across major cities, including Lucknow, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Agra and Meerut. More than 100 institutes faced action for alleged violations of safety and building norms.

Inspectors checked fire-fighting equipment, emergency exits, structural safety and compliance with registration and permit requirements. The drive followed directions from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

In Kanpur’s coaching hub, Kakadeo, over 30 institutes were sealed by the Kanpur Development Authority and fire department. Officials found serious violations, including the use of basements — approved only for parking — as classrooms with large student numbers. Many institutes lacked valid fire safety clearances.

In Mirzapur, around a dozen institutions were sealed. In Prayagraj, only 15 of 97 registered coaching institutes had obtained No Objection Certificates from the fire department. The Prayagraj Development Authority sealed the Civil Lines premises of Khan Global Studies coaching institute during the drive.

In Varanasi, joint teams inspected coaching centres and libraries and found multiple fire safety violations. Several establishments were sealed for operating without approved building plans or in violation of sanctioned land use. Inspections also continued in Jaunpur and Chandauli.

The two-member SIT, comprising Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism and Culture) Amrit Abhijat and ADG (Lucknow Zone) Praveen Kumar, conducted a detailed inspection of the gutted building on Tuesday. They spent over an hour examining different sections, documenting the site through photographs and reviewing the building layout and safety arrangements.

The team also visited the KGMU hospital to meet injured victims and gather firsthand accounts. Officials said survivor statements could help reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the fire. A team from the Uttar Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratory, led by director Adarsh Kumar, also collected evidence from the site.

Speaking to reporters, Amrit Abhijat said information from the injured and evidence from the site would form an important part of the investigation. ADG Praveen Kumar said the inquiry would examine the roles and responsibilities of all departments linked to the building and its operations.