Lucknow coaching center fire: NHRC demands action report from DM, police commissioner over 18 deaths

The National Human Rights Commission has issued a two-week notice to Lucknow’s DM and Police Commissioner seeking an action report on the Aliganj commercial building fire that claimed 18 lives due to alleged safety lapses and missing exits

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of a complaint alleging serious fire safety lapses in connection with the devastating blaze at a commercial building in Lucknow’s Aliganj area that claimed the lives of several students and left many others injured.

Observing that the allegations, prima facie, indicate violations of the human rights of the victims, the apex human rights body has issued notices to the Lucknow District Magistrate and the Commissioner of Police, directing them to inquire into the allegations and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within two weeks.

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The NHRC has also directed the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary to ensure strict adherence to the Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centres, 2024, issued by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, and submit a compliance report.

According to the complaint placed before the apex human rights body, a tragic fire broke out on June 22 in a multi-storey building housing a coaching centre, library, animation studio and other commercial establishments in Aliganj.

The complainant alleged that several students died while many others sustained injuries after being trapped inside the building due to thick smoke, forcing some to jump from the structure in an attempt to save themselves. Concerns were also raised over alleged violations of fire safety norms, absence of emergency exits and evacuation systems, negligence by regulatory authorities and failure to ensure a safe environment for students.

It also sought an independent inquiry, fixation of accountability of responsible officials, compensation for the victims, adequate medical treatment for the injured and measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

“The allegations made in the complaint prima facie seem to be violations of the human rights of the victims,” the NHRC observed.

It directed the District Magistrate and the Commissioner of Police, Lucknow, “to get the allegations made in the complaint inquired into” and submit an Action Taken Report within two weeks.

Meanwhile, a two-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and comprising Additional Chief Secretary Amrit Abhijat and ADG (Lucknow Zone) Praveen Kumar, has begun investigating the incident. A forensic team has also inspected the site to ascertain the cause of the blaze. Preliminary findings suggest the fire originated in an air-conditioning duct, while the absence of an emergency exit caused smoke to engulf the building, trapping students inside.

The blaze, which broke out at around 3 p.m. on June 22 in the illegally modified commercial building housing, among other establishments, an animation centre, claimed the lives of 18 people. Two students who jumped from the building to escape the flames sustained serious injuries and are undergoing treatment.