No Emergency Exit, Single Staircase: How Safety Lapses Turned Lucknow Coaching Hub Into A Death Trap
No Emergency Exit, Single Staircase: How Safety Lapses Turned Lucknow Coaching Hub Into A Death Trap Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: June 23, 2026
No Emergency Exit, Single Staircase: How Safety Lapses Turned Lucknow Coaching Hub Into A Death Trap Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: June 23, 2026, 01:10 IST Authorities found that the building had only one staircase that served both as the entry and exit route. There was no dedicated emergency exit and no alternative evacuation route. Charred remains of the site of a fire at a coaching centre, in Lucknow. (Source: PTI) As investigators piece together the sequence of events that led to the deaths of 15 students and trainees in a devastating fire at a coaching and animation institute in Lucknow’s Aliganj area, the investigation has now narrowed in on one critical finding: the building allegedly had no emergency exit, no alternative evacuation route and only a single staircase serving as both the entry and exit for hundreds of occupants. The focus of the probe has shifted from the cause of the blaze to the chain of administrative and safety failures that may have made the loss of life inevitable once the fire broke out. Also Read: Approved As Residential, Illegally Used As Commercial Space: What Led To Lucknow Fire That Killed 15 What has emerged from the preliminary investigation is a disturbing picture of a building that allegedly offered little chance of survival once the flames spread. Authorities have found that the structure reportedly had only one staircase that served both as the entry and exit route.
There was no dedicated emergency exit, no alternative evacuation route and, according to investigators, an automatic gate system may have further complicated escape efforts when panic-stricken students rushed towards the lone exit. “The biggest challenge during rescue operations was access. Firefighters had to create alternate openings and break portions of the structure to reach trapped occupants," a senior fire department official said. For investigators, the key issue is no longer how the fire started but why the building’s occupants had so few options to escape. From Residential Structure To Commercial Hub According to officials, the building where the fire broke out was originally approved as a residential structure but had gradually been converted into a commercial hub housing a coaching centre, animation studio, library and other establishments. Investigators are examining how such a transformation took place without ensuring compliance with mandatory fire safety norms. Also Read: Lucknow Fire Tragedy: 3 Building Owners Arrested, 4 Officials Suspended After Massive Blaze Kills 15 Officials of the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) have confirmed that the building was sanctioned for residential use. The revelation has intensified scrutiny of regulatory agencies responsible for monitoring land-use violations and ensuring compliance with safety requirements. “The probe will examine whether permissions were obtained, whether inspections were conducted and whether any violations were overlooked," an official associated with the investigation said. 15 Killed In Fire Tragedy The death toll rose to 15 after rescue teams recovered bodies from different parts of the building, including washrooms and enclosed sections where victims had reportedly taken shelter from thick smoke.
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