Massive fire at Lucknow coaching centre, Deputy CM says ‘some children jumped’ from building: VIDEO | Today’s news
A massive fire was reported in a three-storey commercial building in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on Monday afternoon. Some people feared being trapped in the building, while others had to jump from the building to escape the fire, an eyewitness has been called for, although there has been no official word yet.
“Several casualties” are suspected, an official told PTI. However, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said further details would be revealed only after the rescue operation was over.
The fire brigade received information about the fire around 3 pm from a building located at Usha Mehta Marg under Aliganj police station limits, news agency PTI reported.
Rescue operation started
Up to 14 firefighting units, including a hydraulic platform, were deployed to control the flames.
A police official said local police reached the spot immediately after receiving information and teams from nearby fire stations were rushed with water tanks and firefighting equipment.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak also reached the spot. The rescue operation is expected to be completed within minutes.
On X, he wrote, “We have received extremely disturbing reports of a massive fire breaking out in a coaching center at Purania (Sector D), Lucknow.”
He informed that the injured are being admitted to hospitals for treatment.
“Necessary instructions have been issued to the authorities for proper treatment of the injured and all possible assistance. A team of expert doctors along with six ambulances are present at the accident site. I am personally heading to the accident site. I pray to God that all the injured get well soon,” Brajesh Pathak added.
Some feared imprisonment
Eyewitnesses said several youths managed to get out of the building after the fire broke out, while some others were reportedly trapped inside.
However, there was no official confirmation from the police or fire department as to who had been jailed.
A representative of the fire department involved in the rescue operation said that the first floor of the building was checked and no one was found there.
A woman living nearby who runs a facility for paying guests told PTI that there was panic at the site and some people claimed that students might still be inside the building.
Meanwhile, Deputy CM Pathak said, “A fire has broken out at a coaching center in Aliganj. The priority is to ensure the safe rescue of all children. Most of the children have already been evacuated. According to their peers, 3-4 children have locked themselves in the washroom.”
“Some children jumped out, sustained injuries and were sent to hospital. There was a coaching centre, an animation center and a pet shop…,” Brajesh Pathak told ANI.
“Firefighters got to the top floor, no one is there. All the rooms were searched and washrooms were checked. Firefighters got in by breaking through the wall on the second floor of the neighboring house,” he added.
“Due to the heavy smoke, exhaust fans have been installed and a room-by-room search is underway. We will provide full details once the search operation is over. The priority is to ensure that the injured receive proper medical treatment at the hospital and that everyone is safely evacuated…,” he said.
Visuals from the location
Footage from the scene showed fire crews wearing safety gear climbing the building using ladders from outside. Another team was seen trying to enter from an adjacent building of similar height by creating an access point from the top, while other teams continued to try to extinguish the flames.
Some unverified pictures circulating on social media appear to show a youth falling from the first floor of a building amid flames near a railing. It was seen that the people present outside immediately pushed him away from the place. His condition was not immediately known.
A local told PTI, “When I reached the spot, I saw smoke pouring from the building. Some students have already been rescued and 4 to 5 students managed to come out of the building.”
“However, some are still believed to be trapped inside, although the exact number has not been confirmed. Our only hope is that everyone gets out safely. It took some time for the fire department to reach the scene,” he said.
Another local said, “The fire could have been started by a spark. Seven to eight students jumped out of the building to save themselves. However, it is still feared that around 20 to 25 students remain trapped inside.”
Firefighting operations were underway and further details were awaited.
