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Police probe Lucknow coaching centre fire tragedy, three building owners arrested, four officials suspended
Virendra Prasad Shukla and Tushak Krishna Jaiswal are among the three arrested.
As the Lucknow Police launched a probe into the coaching centre fire tragedy at Aliganj, three building owners have been arrested while four officials faced suspension.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Virendra Prasad Shukla (62), Ramkrishna Upadhyay (43) and Tushak Krishna Jaiswal (31).
The fire broke out in a three-storey commercial building in Aliganj area in the city on Monday afternoon, prompting a major rescue and firefighting operation.
The officials who have been suspended include: Gaurav Kumar, Executive Engineer (Collection), Jankipuram; Kamlendra Kumar Singh, Food Safety and Standards Officer (FSSO), Indira Nagar; Anil Kumar, Assistant Engineer (AE); Pramod Pandey, Junior Engineer (JE).
Building Approved For Housing, Allegedly Operated As Commercial Hub
Preliminary investigations into the fire tragedy at Aliganj have revealed that the building was originally approved for residential use but had allegedly been operating as a commercial establishment since 2014. The premises are linked to the Rameshwaram Group, with Virendra, Dhirendra and Surendra Pratap Shukla identified as key persons associated with its operations.
Earlier, authorities had prepared a list of 16 individuals who could face action in connection with the incident, including the owners as well as officials, engineers and staff members allegedly responsible for permitting or failing to act against the building’s unauthorised commercial use.
FIR Registered
Further, an FIR has been registered under Sections 110, 105, 125 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 6 and 10 of the Uttar Pradesh Fire Service Act, against six named accused and other persons found responsible. Further legal proceedings are underway.
According to the fire department, an alert about the blaze was received around 3 pm from a coaching centre situated on Usha Mehta Marg in the Aliganj police station area. In response, 14 fire engines, including a hydraulic platform vehicle, were rushed to the spot to bring the flames under control.
Students Jumped Off Building To Escape Fire
As the blaze engulfed the structure, several students jumped from the first floor of the building in a desperate bid to escape the thick smoke and advancing flames. Videos from the spot captured moments of panic, with onlookers urging those trapped inside to jump to safety while firefighters raced to contain the blaze.
Further, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased. The Chief Minister also declared financial assistance of Rs 50,000 each for the injured. Earlier in the day, Adityanath visited King George’s Medical University (KGMU) and met families of victims and assured strict action against those found responsible. The CM also inspected the affected building.
UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak also visited the fire spot to monitor the rescue and relief efforts. The Deputy CM said an order for a high-level inquiry into the incident has been issued. “The Principal Secretary (Home) and the DGP have been summoned to the site and instructed to investigate the causes and ensure strict action is taken to prevent such incidents in the future. I saw 14 bodies with my own eyes…,” he told reporters.
PM Modi Expresses Grief
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the fire incident and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
“Anguished by the loss of lives in a fire mishap in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. My condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. Rescue operations are underway and authorities are providing all possible assistance,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
About the Author
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com’s general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish…Read More
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