Four arrested, six LDA officials suspended as investigation reveals building was illegal; 48 coaching centres sealed across UP so far.

The Lucknow Development Authority has pasted a demolition notice on the building where 15 students died in a devastating fire, as authorities revealed the structure was allegedly illegal. The property owner and three others have been arrested on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The building, located in Lucknow's Aliganj area, housed a pet shop and clinic in the basement and ground floor. The second floor contained "Learning Space" — a library and coaching centre — along with Head Hopper Studio, which works in 3D art production.

Authorities said a demolition order had been issued against the structure in 2016, but it was later revoked. The LDA has now given the owner 15 days to respond before proceeding with demolition.

Four Arrested, Six LDA Officials Suspended

Police have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and arrested four accused, including Virendra Shukla, owner of Rameshwaram Institute of Technology and Management, which operated from the premises. Six LDA officials have been suspended, while notices have been sent to the state government against 18 officials.

The Special Investigation Team, comprising IAS officer Amrit Abhijat and IPS officer Praveen Kumar, inspected the building on Wednesday and collected evidence from the spot. The team questioned injured survivors and family members at KGMU trauma centre for nearly 90 minutes.

"People connected to the incident will be questioned, and we will also speak to the affected families," ADG Praveen Kumar said. "We are currently inspecting the scene. Our report will be submitted soon."

Statewide Crackdown on Coaching Centres

Following the tragedy, police and administrative authorities have launched statewide inspections of coaching centres and hotels. So far, 48 coaching institutes and three hotels have been sealed across 20 cities for failing to meet fire safety requirements.

In Kanpur, 30 coaching centres have been sealed. Varanasi reported two seals, while Noida and Mathura each had one. Two hotels in Bareilly and one in Mathura were also shut down.

In Lucknow, the crackdown hit major coaching brands:

- Allen Coaching Centre in Hazratganj was sealed around noon on Wednesday

- Allen Centre in Krishna Nagar was also sealed, with students sent home

- Physics Wallah centre in KBC-2 Tower was sealed by LDA officials

- Paramount Coaching in Aliganj was sealed over illegal construction

- Gravity Coaching in Kapurthala — the operator reportedly fled before LDA arrival

LDA Zone-2 Zonal Officer Ravi Nandan Singh said inspections are currently being carried out at coaching institutes across the city. Action is being taken against centres not complying with prescribed safety standards.

Students who arrived for classes at sealed centres were left waiting outside. Many were later allowed to collect essential items under supervision before being escorted out.

CM Yogi Calls It a 'Major Lesson'

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday evening and described the tragedy as a major lesson for the state. He said there would be no compromise on safety standards.

"Fire safety is not merely a regulatory requirement but a matter of protecting human lives," he said.

Key decisions announced:

- Statewide fire safety audits to be conducted in mission mode

- Hospitals, nursing homes, coaching centres, malls and government buildings to be inspected

- Registration to be made mandatory for all coaching institutes

- Commercial buildings must prominently display fire NOC

- Commercial activities will not be allowed in residential buildings or basements

- Basements approved for parking must be used only for parking

- Electrical load in commercial buildings will also be inspected

- Public awareness campaigns to be conducted before enforcement action

The Chief Minister also reviewed the state's fire response system. Currently, 296 of 350 tehsils have 326 operational permanent fire stations. Twenty-six new fire stations are ready for inauguration, construction of 25 more is underway, and DPRs are being prepared for 47 additional stations.

Victims: 21-Year-Old Aditya's Sister Breaks Down

Aditya Srivastava, 21, from Sitapur, was among those killed. When his body reached home on Wednesday morning, his sister Nishtha broke down and clung to her brother's body.

Aditya's father is a lawyer and his mother a shiksha mitra in a primary school. He was the second among four siblings.

Jayant Gupta, who jumped from the building to escape the flames, underwent an MRI on Wednesday morning. Doctors will decide whether surgery is required based on the report. He remains admitted to the Trauma Surgery Department.

What Was Operating Inside the Building?

The ill-fated building in Aliganj housed multiple operations across its four floors. The basement, ground floor and first floor contained a pet shop and clinic. The second floor hosted "Learning Space" — used as a library and coaching centre — along with Head Hopper Studio, which works in 3D art production and game asset outsourcing.

The mix of commercial and coaching operations in a residential-style building appears to be a key factor in the tragedy, with officials pointing to violations of building regulations and safety norms.

Fear Grips Commercial Establishments

Following the crackdown, several shops and commercial establishments remained shut as owners feared action. Many coaching centres, studios, pet shops and stationery stores began removing signboards from their establishments.

Bhaskar reporter Nikhil Sahu reported that inspections and enforcement drives have created widespread concern among business owners, prompting many to keep their shutters down.

The building where the tragedy occurred has been sealed by authorities. On Wednesday, several people arrived at the site to see the structure, with many recording videos of the building.

LDA officials said bulldozer action against the illegal structure is planned for July 7.

Nine Killed in Early Morning Blaze at Delhi's Vivek Vihar Building

Suspected AC Blast Triggers Deadly Fire in Shahdara Residential Complex

At least nine people, including a 1.5-year-old child, lost their lives after a massive fire engulfed a four-storey residential building in Vivek Vihar, Shahdara, in the early hours of Sunday. The blaze, believed to have been triggered by an air-conditioner blast, spread rapidly through the upper floors, trapping residents as smoke filled the structure.

Fire services received the first call around 3:27-3:48 am. Multiple tenders rushed to the spot within minutes. By the time flames were brought under control around 8 am, rescue teams had recovered nine charred bodies and saved 10-15 others, two of whom suffered minor injuries.

Families Wiped Out

The victims belonged to two Jain families living in the building. On the second floor, five members of one family perished: Arvind Jain (60), his wife Anita Jain (58), their son Nishant Jain (35), daughter-in-law Anchal Jain (33), and their toddler grandson, Master Akash Jain (1.5 years). Another resident, Shikha Jain (45), died on the first floor.

On the third floor, another family was found huddled near a locked terrace door: Nitin Jain (around 50), his wife Shailey Jain (around 48), and their son Samyak Jain (around 25). Their bodies were recovered after intense search operations. Naveen Jain (48), husband of the deceased Shikha Jain, was among the injured and shifted to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital.

AC Blast Suspected as Trigger

Preliminary enquiries point to an explosion in an air-conditioner unit installed at the rear of the building as the likely cause. Local resident Rohit, who spoke to reporters, recalled the sequence: “A blast in the AC triggered the fire. It started around 3:13 am... Fire tenders arrived at around 3:35 am.” The flames quickly spread to the second, third, and fourth floors, turning the building facade black with soot.

Intense Rescue Operation

Delhi Fire Services deployed up to 14 tenders and over 80 personnel. Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) staff, traffic police, and local officers cordoned off the area as anxious relatives and neighbours gathered outside. Municipal Councillor Pankaj Luthra reached the spot soon after and described the grim scene: bodies were located on the back side of the second floor and upper levels.

DCP Shahdara, Rajendra Prasad Meena, confirmed that the fire was brought under control after a prolonged operation. “We got the call at around 4 AM. Fire tenders rushed to the spot,” he told ANI. Bodies were later shifted to hospital for formal identification.

Safety Concerns Surface

The incident has once again highlighted challenges with fire safety in densely populated residential areas of east Delhi. Iron grilles on windows and a locked terrace reportedly hampered escape routes for several victims. Many buildings in such localities have limited entry-exit points, adding to risks during emergencies.

As news of the tragedy spread, local leaders expressed shock and offered condolences. Authorities have initiated further investigation into the exact cause, even as questions are being raised about adherence to fire safety norms in older residential complexes.

Community in Mourning

By late morning, the area wore a sombre look. Acquaintances of the deceased stood in small groups, some consoling family members who had rushed to the spot. Ambulances moved in and out as the grim task of handing over bodies continued. The surviving injured are under treatment, and officials said support would be extended to affected families.

This is the latest in a series of fire incidents in the national capital that have claimed lives, often during early morning hours when most residents are asleep. Fire officials have appealed to citizens to ensure proper maintenance of electrical appliances and keep escape routes clear, especially in multi-storey buildings.

Nine Killed in Early Morning Fire at Vivek Vihar Building in Delhi

A devastating blaze triggered by an AC explosion ripped through a four-storey residential building in Shahdara’s Vivek Vihar early Sunday, claiming nine lives including a toddler.

A major fire broke out in a multi-storey building in Vivek Vihar, Shahdara district, in the early hours of Sunday, leaving nine people dead and two others injured. Fire services and police rushed to the spot after receiving a call around 4 AM, with initial reports indicating the fire may have started near 3:13 AM due to a blast in an air conditioner unit at the rear of the building.

According to officials, the flames quickly spread to flats on the second, third, and fourth floors of the four-storey structure. Rescue operations continued for several hours as thick smoke engulfed the building, turning its exterior black. At least 12 fire tenders were deployed, along with teams from the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), traffic police, and local authorities.

Bodies Recovered from Multiple Floors

Firefighters faced challenging conditions inside the smoke-filled building. Bodies were recovered from different levels, particularly the rear portions where the fire is believed to have originated.

On the second floor, five members of the Jain family perished. They have been identified as Arvind Jain (60), his wife Anita Jain (58), their son Nishant Jain (35), Nishant’s wife Anchal Jain (33), and their 1.5-year-old grandson Master Akash Jain. 

Another victim, Shikha Jain (45), wife of Naveen Jain, was found on the first floor. On the third floor, a separate family of three — Nitin Jain (around 50), his wife Shailey Jain (around 48), and their son Samyak Jain (around 25) — lost their lives.

Local councillor Pankaj Luthra, who reached the spot soon after, said five bodies were located on the backside of the second floor alone. He confirmed additional recoveries from upper levels as teams cleared the premises.

Rescue Efforts and Injured

Fifteen people were successfully rescued from the building. Among them, Naveen Jain (48), husband of the deceased Shikha Jain, sustained injuries and was rushed to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital for treatment along with another injured person. Both are reported to be in stable condition with minor injuries.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara), Rajendra Prasad Meena, said fire tenders brought the blaze under control after intense efforts. “We are still searching the premises,” he added shortly after the initial response.

A local resident, Rohit, who witnessed the incident, told reporters that the explosion in the AC unit sparked the rapid spread. “Around 12-15 people were rescued, but some were still missing initially,” he said.

Scene at the Spot

By morning, a large crowd of relatives and local residents had gathered outside the charred building. Ambulances carried the bodies to hospital mortuaries after the fire was fully extinguished. The rear side of the building, where the AC was installed, showed significant damage, consistent with the initial assessment of the cause.

Officials have initiated a detailed probe into the exact trigger and whether any safety norms were violated. Questions are also being raised about the building’s fire safety measures, common in many older residential complexes across the capital.

Impact on Local Community

The incident has sent shockwaves through Vivek Vihar, a densely populated residential area. Many families in the building appear to be related or from the same community, making the loss even more profound. Neighbours described the victims as long-time residents, with the young child’s death evoking particular grief.

Delhi has witnessed several fire incidents in recent years, often linked to electrical faults, overloaded wiring, or malfunctioning appliances during peak summer months. Authorities usually advise regular safety audits, but enforcement remains a challenge in many localities.

As investigations continue, police and fire department teams are documenting evidence and speaking to survivors and witnesses. The exact cause will be ascertained through forensic examination, though preliminary enquiries point to the AC blast as the origin.

Further updates on the probe and any support extended to the affected families are awaited. The tragedy once again highlights the need for stricter fire safety compliance in urban residential buildings.