Most casualties occurred due to suffocation inside the smoke-filled three-storey building on Usha Mehta Marg. Desperate students jumped from the first floor to escape the flames.
A horrific afternoon unfolded in Lucknow’s premium Aliganj locality on Monday, as a massive fire tore through a three-storey commercial building on Usha Mehta Marg, killing at least 15 people—mostly young students. The complex, which houses a pet clinic on the ground floor and an animation coaching institute on the upper floors, turned into a smoke-filled death trap around 3:00 PM, trapping dozens inside.
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Harrowing eyewitness accounts and viral video footage captured panic-stricken students shattering glass windows and jumping from the first floor to escape oncoming flames. Emergency personnel deployed 14 fire tenders, including a specialized hydraulic platform vehicle, and were forced to breach an adjacent building’s wall to extract trapped individuals via stretchers and blankets.
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[Aliganj Commercial Complex Fire Timeline]
│
┌────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────┐
▼ ▼ ▼
[The Outbreak — 3:00 PM] [The Rescue Operations] [The Casualty Profile]
• Fire erupts in the complex. • 14 fire tenders deployed. • 15 confirmed dead (suffocation).
• Smoke spreads via AC ducts. • First responders breach walls • Multiple injured shifted to
• Students jump from windows. via adjacent terrace routes. KGMU Trauma Centre.
Technical Lapses and Official Response
Preliminary investigations indicate the fire may have originated within the building’s central air conditioning duct. The toxic smoke quickly overwhelmed the structure, and due to a lack of proper emergency fire exits, the majority of the victims tragically died from suffocation rather than direct burn injuries.
Medical Superintendent Dr. Prem Raj Singh from King George’s Medical University (KGMU) confirmed the casualties, stating that 15 individuals were brought dead to the trauma centre, while several others are undergoing treatment for fractured bones, minor burns, and smoke inhalation.
[AC Duct System Failure] ──► Smoke Spreads Rapidly ──► Structural Exit Bottleneck ──► Suffocation (15 Dead)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath immediately cut short an official visit to Aligarh and rushed to Lucknow to visit the site and meet victims’ families at KGMU. The Chief Minister has established a two-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) tasked with conducting a thorough safety compliance inquiry and submitting a comprehensive report within seven days.
State and Central Compensation Details
Both state and central leaders expressed profound shock over the incident, with President Droupadi Murmu calling the tragedy “heartbreaking.” Formal financial ex-gratia packages have been cleared for immediate disbursement:
| Government Level | Amount to Next of Kin (Deceased) | Amount to Injured Victims | Additional Administrative Directives |
| Central (PMNRF) | ₹2,000,000 (Rs 2 Lakh) | ₹50,000 | Coordinated via Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. |
| State Government (UP) | ₹500,000 (Rs 5 Lakh) | ₹50,000 | Complete state-funded medical support at KGMU; strict legal action against property owners. |
Official Enforcement Notice: Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the scene to review emergency logistics. Pathak reiterated that the search operations are fully complete and confirmed that no individuals remain trapped. “Strict criminal action will be taken against those found responsible for safety non-compliance, with absolutely no leniency,” he stated.
SECTION 4 — FAQ
Q1: What caused the catastrophic fire at the Lucknow coaching centre?
While a definitive investigation is underway by a newly formed Special Investigation Team (SIT), preliminary assessments by Uttar Pradesh Energy Minister A.K. Sharma indicate the fire likely started due to an electrical spark or technical failure within the building’s central AC duct network.
Q2: What was the primary cause of death among the 15 victims?
According to Dr. Prem Raj Singh, Medical Superintendent at King George’s Medical University (KGMU), the primary cause behind most of the 15 fatalities was suffocation from toxic smoke inhalation rather than thermal burns, compounded by the building’s lack of viable emergency exits.
Q3: What emergency monetary compensation has been announced for the families?
The Prime Minister’s Office has announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased individual and ₹50,000 for the injured from the PMNRF. Additionally, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced an added relief sum of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for each injured citizen.
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