Crackdown on fire safety violators across UP days after Lucknow blaze killed 15
Authorities in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday stepped up inspections of coaching centres, libraries and other educational institutions across the state after the Aliganj fire tragedy
Authorities in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday stepped up inspections of coaching centres, libraries and other educational institutions across the state after the Aliganj fire tragedy in Lucknow earlier this week that left 15 people dead. Joint teams checked building approvals, fire safety systems, exits and registrations, and sealed several establishments for violations. The drive covered multiple districts, with officials saying action would continue in the coming days to prevent a repeat of incidents such as the Aliganj fire. In several places, institutes that failed to produce approved building plans and other mandatory documents were served notices and told to comply with fire safety and regulatory norms. Read Full Story In Lucknow, teams from the Lucknow Development Authority, the fire department and the electricity department continued inspections of educational institutions and commercial establishments. LDA zonal in-charge Devansh Trivedi said a major coaching centre in Viraj Khand, Gomti Nagar, was sealed after inspectors found multiple violations. "Classes were being conducted when we reached the premises. We found encroachment in the setback area, deviations from the approved building plan and dead-end portions in the structure. There were several irregularities due to which students and occupants would not have been able to evacuate safely during an emergency," Trivedi said.
He said the team inspected classrooms and fire-fighting equipment and found significant deficiencies, leading to the sealing of the premises. Officials said at least six coaching institutes were also sealed in Lucknow's Aliganj-Kapoorthala area. In Bahraich, Chief Fire Officer Vishal Ramanuj Gaur said joint teams of police, revenue, education and fire department officials were carrying out surprise inspections on the instructions of District Magistrate Akshay Tripathi. "Seven libraries inspected on Wednesday were found closed. Several coaching institutes were also shut, while some functioning centres were vacated until compliance with safety standards is ensured," Gaur said. He said inspections were checking entry and exit arrangements, availability of fire-fighting equipment, fire safety registrations, approved building maps and coaching licences. "It is also being verified whether buildings being used for coaching activities have approval for commercial use and whether staircases and emergency exits are adequate as per occupancy and building dimensions," he added. In Mathura, district authorities sealed more than two dozen coaching centres, libraries, hotels and guest houses after a special drive launched following an emergency meeting chaired by District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh. Officials said six coaching centres, four libraries and two hotels in Mathura, along with 16 guest houses in Vrindavan, were sealed for operating without adequate safety measures, approved building plans or mandatory registrations.
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