Lucknow coaching centre fire: Students feared dead in Aliganj blaze, rescue ops underway

A massive fire at a coaching centre in Lucknow's Aliganj has reportedly sparked fears of student deaths on Monday.

The building in the Purania area of Aliganj, which also has a gaming centre, also had as many as 10 students trapped inside, which has reportedly left several injured.

While initial reports say a short circuit caused the massive blaze, which quickly engulfed the whole of the building, the authorities are yet to investigate the cause of the fire in detail.

Visuals from the scene show thick plumes of smoke rising from the burning building, which the fire department has now brought under control.

Eyewitnesses have also reported that several people—who had been attending classes inside—could be heard screaming from the building soon after the fire began in the shop just below the building, which spread very fast.

They added that amid the fire spreading through various parts of the building, several students even allegedly tried jumping from the upper floors to save themselves.

In that regard, a woman working at the coaching centre told News18 Hindi that the roof had also been locked, which prevented the panicking students from accessing it.

People immediately informed the fire brigade and police about the incident, after which three fire brigade vehicles reached the spot and doused the flames. Police and administration teams are also present at the spot.

14 fire tenders, including a hydraulic platform vehicle, were eventually brought to the scene to control the blaze, as per a PTI report.

CM Yogi Adityanath soon took cognisance of the fire, and ordered the acceleration of relief and rescue operations at Aliganj.

He also directed that proper medical treatment be provided for the injured.