The blaze broke out on the first floor of a building in the Naka area, trapping several children inside.

At least 15 students were killed after a massive fire broke out at a coaching centre in Lucknow's Naka Hindola area, reducing the dreams of 15 families to ashes. The incident, which occurred on [current date], sent shockwaves through the city as visuals of the tragedy emerged, showing desperate children trying to escape the inferno.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased.

The fire is believed to have started on the first floor of the building, which was being used as a library-cum-coaching centre. Officials said the blaze quickly spread through the structure, trapping students who had gathered for their regular classes.

Desperate Escape Attempts Caught on Camera

Disturbing visuals that surfaced on social media showed the terrifying moments as the fire engulfed the building. Some students were seen climbing down using electrical wires and scaffolding, while others attempted to jump from the first floor in a bid to save their lives.

"Some children were hanging from windows. The smoke was so thick that visibility was almost zero," said a local resident who witnessed the tragedy.

The fire brigade team arrived at the scene and launched an immediate rescue operation. Firefighters had to break down a wall to reach the trapped students.

But by the time the flames were brought under control, bodies began emerging from the debris, leaving behind only screams and mourning.

Families Rush to Hospitals

The trauma centre and the post-mortem house turned into scenes of inconsolable grief as relatives rushed to identify their loved ones. Families stood outside, their eyes reflecting nothing but the pain of losing their children — some had lost their only support, others had lost their future.

A relative of one victim told reporters, "He was just 17. He went for his daily classes and never came back."

Administrative Response

District Magistrate Surya Pal Gangwar confirmed the death toll and said that a thorough investigation has been ordered to determine the cause of the fire. Preliminary information suggests that a short circuit may have triggered the blaze, but officials are reviewing all possibilities.

Senior police officials, including the Police Commissioner, reached the site to oversee rescue operations and coordinate with the fire department.

Why This Incident Has Shaken Lucknow

This incident is one of the deadliest in recent years involving a coaching centre in Uttar Pradesh's capital. With thousands of students flocking to such centres daily, questions are now being raised about fire safety compliance and building regulations.

Fire safety experts point out that many coaching centres operate in densely packed buildings with inadequate emergency exits and no proper fire extinguishing systems.

When asked about safety inspections, a municipal official said that a comprehensive audit of all such centres in the area would now be conducted.

More than 15 fire tenders were deployed to control the blaze, with officials confirming that the fire was completely doused by evening.

Further details are awaited as the investigation continues.