UP govt announces Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for deceased, Rs 50,000 for injured in Lucknow fire
Lucknow, June 22
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of those killed in the devastating fire at a coaching centre in Lucknow's Aliganj area, while Rs 50,000 each will be provided to the injured, the Chief Minister's Office said.
The announcement came as the death toll in the tragedy rose to 15, with several others injured after a massive fire broke out in a building housing a library and a computer training institute in the Aliganj locality.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the site and meeting the injured, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak recounted the harrowing escape attempts made by survivors trapped inside the building.
"The injured told us that the fire broke out suddenly. Smoke from the fire came from the first floor. As they started to leave, there was a fire on the stairs, so they ran towards the back. Some people climbed down using a cable. Those who survived either jumped or used the cable to escape," Pathak said.
Describing the incident as "heart-wrenching" and "horrific", Pathak assured the bereaved families that the government would stand by them and ensure justice.
"This is a very major, heart-wrenching incident. We will never forget this incident; it's a lesson for us. The victimised families will get justice under all circumstances. The entire government stands with them," he said.
Pathak said one of the injured was undergoing surgery after sustaining a serious stomach injury while trying to escape the blaze.
"One person's operation is underway in the OT. He sustained a stomach injury from an angle piece while falling. The rest of the injured are out of danger. To ensure they receive proper treatment, all arrangements have been made," he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said post-mortem examinations of the deceased would be conducted by specially constituted teams and confirmed that a high-level inquiry had been ordered into the incident.
"Nothing can be said at first glance right now. We will be able to say something only after the investigation. However, strict action will be taken against whoever is found guilty," he said.
The state government has also directed officials to review fire safety norms and ensure proper emergency exit routes in buildings frequented by children and large gatherings to prevent similar incidents in the future. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is a tragic reminder of how many coaching centres and commercial buildings in our cities operate with complete disregard for safety regulations. The government should not only provide compensation but also ensure that such incidents don't recur. At least the CM responded quickly with compensation and ordered an inquiry. But we need systemic change, not just reactive measures. Praying for the injured 🙏
Terrible tragedy. The government's compensation is decent, but it can never replace a human life. The fact that people had to jump or use cables to escape shows the lack of emergency planning. As someone who has worked in safety compliance, this is a clear failure of building inspection systems. The real question is: how many more such death traps are operating in our cities right now?
With due respect to the government's swift response, I am tired of these announcements after every tragedy. Rs 5 lakh is good but a life is priceless. We need to fix the root cause - why are coaching centres allowed to operate in buildings that are clearly unsafe? The staircase was blocked by fire? That means there was only one staircase. This should be criminal negligence. The Deputy CM saying "nothing can be said at first glance" - sorry, but the evidence is clear from the survivors' accounts.
Such a horrific event. Watching the news clips of survivors describing their ordeal is heartbreaking. The silver lining is that the government has acted quickly on compensation and promised a high-level inquiry. But in India, we see these tragedies repeat every few years. Remember the 2019 Surat coaching centre fire? Or the 2011 AMRI hospital fire? The pattern is always the same - no fire exits, no sprinklers, no drills. Will this really be a "lesson" as the Deputy CM said, or will we forget in a few months?
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.