UP: Lucknow Development Authority seals coaching centre in Viraj Khand following Aliganj fire tragedy
Lucknow, June 24
After the tragic fire incident in Aliganj, the Lucknow Development Authority launched an intensive inspection drive against the city's coaching institutes on Wednesday.
As part of this initiative, an LDA team inspected various coaching centres located in Viraj Khand, Gomti Nagar.
During the inspection, several deficiencies were found at the ALLEN coaching centre in Viraj Khand. LDA officials evacuated students from the premises to inspect safety standards and building arrangements.
As per the officials, the team did not find adequate safety measures in place to handle fires or other emergencies. Officials stated that the institute's preparedness regarding student safety in the event of an accident was unsatisfactory.
Citing serious negligence, the LDA sealed the ALLEN coaching centre. Inspections of safety arrangements at coaching institutes across the city have intensified following the Aliganj fire incident, and action is being taken against those violating regulations.
Devansh Trivedi, Officer on Special Duty (OSD), LDA, after sealing a coaching centre, said that the sealing process has been carried out to ensure the safety of people. All the students studying there have been informed of the procedure and were safely evacuated before the sealing.
"The sealing process has been carried out. The building owner has been summoned, and coordination has also been done with the operators. All students have been properly informed about the situation and have been peacefully evacuated. The premises have now been sealed. We also found that the firemen or fire safety team here were not adequately trained. Because of this, had any incident such as arson or another emergency occurred, their own staff would not have been able to respond effectively," he said.
Meanwhile, Education Department official Shaila Nushrat Qidwai also inspected the Aakash coaching centre in Gomti Nagar. She meticulously examined the institute's documents, operational permits, and other essential records. Officials have made it clear that there will be no compromise on student safety and that strict action will continue against institutions failing to comply with regulations.
This comes after the fire had broken out in a three-storey building in Lucknow's Aliganj area on June 22, which housed a gaming and animation studio. Among the 15 people who lost their lives in the blaze were students, trainees, and staff members working at the studio.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good step but sealing a centre without warning or prior notice seems harsh. Students ka future toh kuch socha? They were mid-session. Why not give them time to fix issues rather than shutting them down immediately? Proper inspection and then action would be fairer.
It's high time authorities woke up. Coaching centres are running like commercial shops with zero safety measures. Students ko bheed mein daal kar profit kama rahe hain. LDA should also check fire extinguishers, emergency exits, and whether staff knows how to use them. Safety pe compromise nahi hona chahiye.
This is a necessary move. In India, we always wait for a disaster to happen before acting. The Aliganj fire killed 15 people—how many more lives need to be lost? 👏 Glad to see LDA and Education Department finally coordinating. Hope they follow up and ensure compliance, not just token action.
But where were these checks before the fire incident? Every coaching centre has been flouting rules for years. This is just window-dressing to show action. I hope LDA doesn't stop after a few weeks. Long-term vigilance is needed, especially in old buildings with no fire exits.
The fact that firemen were not adequately trained is shocking. 😨 Coaching centres pay crores in fees but can't invest in basic safety training? And the building owner should also be held accountable. Mere sealing isn't enough—file cases against those responsible for negligence.
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