Massive Fire in Lucknow Complex Housing Coaching Centre: 15, Including Children, Reported Killed
New Delhi: A massive fire broke out in the middle of the day inside a commercial building housing a coaching centre and a pet supplies store and clinic in Lucknow's Aliganj on Monday (June 22). Onlookers reported seeing horrific sights of people jumping from higher floors of the building to escape the flames. At least 15 are reported dead in the incident and five injured. It is unclear how many were trapped inside the burning building, but reports suggest that the number may be as high as 20 or 25.
"Seven to eight students jumped from the building to save themselves. However, around 20 to 25 students are still feared trapped inside," a resident told the Hindustan Times.
Reports said the building did not have a fire exit and firefighters had to drill a hole into an adjacent wall to pull students and others out.
This is how rules are brazenly flouted. Had there been a fire exit in this building, the casualties could have been reduced to minimum in the Lucknow fire tragedy. But here the first responders had to drill a massive opening to create another exit. Think on the precious time lost… pic.twitter.com/3HC8JBm7sq
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) June 22, 2026
As per a report in the Indian Express, the fire may have broken out on the upper floor where a class was in session. A doctor who was at the scene told the newspaper he recieved a call at 2:35 pm regarding the fire and rushed to the spot 2 km away. He said the building housed a graphics animation centre and a library on the second floor and a pet clinic on the other floors, including the basement. He told the newspaper he heard people crying for help as well as animals in distress.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath cut short his other programmes in Aligarh to return to Lucknow and confirmed that some children have been killed in the fire. He said he has ordered an inquiry into the incident by the police and home affairs department of the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed condolences to the victims' families. He announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF.
Twelve fire tenders were reportedly deployed in the locality in Uttar Pradesh's capital city, said reports. Videos circulating on social media showed a young man falling off the upper floor of the building which was engulfed in flames.
Visuals from earlier in the day, reported by NDTV, show students, apparently with police assistance, climbing down ropes amidst flames and thick smoke to save themselves.
The Hindu reports from Lucknow that according to eyewitnesses, eight students jumped from the building amid the blaze. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak visited the fire spot to monitor the ongoing rescue and relief efforts, it said.
The Hindustan Times reports that two injured were brought to the King George's Medical University (KGMU) Trauma Centre. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak visited the fire spot to monitor the ongoing rescue and relief efforts, the Hindu reports.
Pathak shared visuals of the scene at the hospital on his X account.
Photo shared by Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Brajesh Pathak on X.
Pathak said three to four students who managed to escape had informed authorities that some students could still be inside the washrooms. "We are conducting a room-by-room search, and fire brigade personnel are checking every washroom. So far, there have been no reports of any casualties," he told PTI.
Pathak added that a team of specialist doctors and six ambulances had been deployed at the site and that he was heading to the spot. “I pray to God that all the injured recover their health soon,” he wrote on X.
According to ANI, six persons were pulled out of the flames soon after the fire broke out. The number of casualties is reportedly rising.
Reports said the affected building had been cordonned and traffic halted in the lane in Sector D of Aliganj where the building caught fire.
People also arrived to help rescue the animals in the building. The Indian Express said, citing a worker with an animal welfare organisation that 13 birds, cats and dogs were rescued.
This article went live on June twenty-second, two thousand twenty six, at forty-five minutes past seven in the evening.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
