Lucknow coaching centre fire kills 15, survivors recount horror as rescue teams continue search

A major fire broke out at a coaching centre in Lucknow on Monday afternoon, killing at least 15 people and injuring several others. The tragic incident has shocked the city and left many families in deep grief. Rescue teams are still working at the site, while officials are trying to find out how the fire started and whether safety rules were followed.

The fire happened inside a commercial building where several young people were present. According to reports, many of them were students or employees working in different offices and institutes inside the building. Thick smoke quickly filled the building, making it difficult for people to escape.

The incident has once again raised serious questions about fire safety in commercial buildings and coaching centres, where many young people gather every day.

Eyewitnesses describe panic and chaos

People who were near the building at the time of the fire said it was a horrifying scene. They saw smoke coming out from the windows and heard people crying for help from inside.

An eyewitness named Aman said that when he reached the spot, the fire had already spread and smoke was covering the building. He said some local people tried to help before fire brigades arrived. According to him, they managed to save around five to six people.

He also said one person jumped from the building to save his life but got seriously injured. Others remained trapped inside as the smoke became thicker.

Eyewitnesses said there was complete panic. Some people inside were trying to break windows, while others were calling their families for help. The fear and confusion made the situation even worse.

Many local residents gathered outside and tried to help in any way they could. Some gave water to rescued victims, while others helped in carrying the injured to ambulances.

The fire spread very fast, and many people could not find a safe way out. This made the rescue operation more difficult.

A very emotional moment came when a trapped young man called his father during the fire. According to a ground report, the boy called at around 2:36 pm and told his father that he was trapped inside the burning building.

He reportedly said, “Dad, I am trapped inside. The building is on fire. Please call the police and fire department quickly so they can save me.”

This phone call has deeply moved people across the country and shows how terrifying the situation was for those trapped.

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Rescue operation and investigation underway

Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) quickly reached the spot and started their operation. Firefighters worked for hours to control the fire and search for survivors.

Officials said the building had several businesses operating inside it. The ground and first floors reportedly had a pet clinic, while the second floor was being used for coding and gaming-related work.

At the time of the fire, around 25 to 30 people were believed to be inside the building.

Doctors at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) confirmed that 15 people died in the tragedy. Many of the victims were young.

Medical Superintendent Dr Amiya Agrawal said that 21 to 22 people were brought to the hospital. Out of them, five were injured and are now receiving treatment.

Two of the injured had jumped from the building to save themselves and suffered back injuries. Doctors have done their scans and started treatment.

The bodies of those who died are being sent for post-mortem. Families have started arriving at the hospital and mortuary to identify their loved ones.

The government has said that a full investigation will be carried out. Officials will check if the building had proper fire safety systems like fire extinguishers, emergency exits, and alarms.

Questions are also being raised about whether the building had permission to run multiple businesses and if overcrowding made the situation worse.

Experts say many such buildings ignore safety rules, which can lead to deadly accidents like this.

The tragedy has left Lucknow in shock. Many families are waiting for news of their children, while others are mourning their loss.

People are demanding strict action against those responsible if negligence is found.

This fire is a painful reminder of how important fire safety is in schools, coaching centres, offices and commercial buildings. Proper planning, regular safety checks and emergency exits can save many lives.

For now, the focus remains on helping the injured, supporting the affected families and completing the rescue work. Authorities hope to find answers soon so that such a tragedy does not happen again.