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.