In response to the devastating fire incident that claimed the lives of 15 students on Monday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered the immediate formation of a two-member Special Investigation Team to conduct an impartial and time-bound investigation.
The decision was finalized after a high-level review meeting where the Prime Minister expressed grave concern over the tragedy and commissioned a careful examination of the circumstances surrounding the fire.
To ensure a thorough investigation covering both administrative oversight and operational lapses, the government appointed two senior officials to the Special Investigation Team: Amrit Abhijat, Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Religious and Culture Department, and Praveen Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Lucknow District.
Read also | 15 killed in Lucknow training center fire; Students jump from the building to escape
The Special Investigation Team was assigned a comprehensive fact-finding mission to determine the root cause of the fire and identify any possible negligence. Reflecting the seriousness of the situation, the Prime Minister issued a clear directive to the team to conclude its investigation and submit a detailed report within seven days.
The formation of this highly empowered team indicates the administration’s intention to ensure accountability and prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Further action is expected once the results of the investigation are submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office.
After a massive fire engulfed a training center in Lucknow’s Aliganj area, team leader Yogi Adityanath cut short his trip to Aligarh to visit the site. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also arrived in Lucknow after being informed about the training institute fire.
“I have just received information regarding an incident that occurred in Lucknow. Some children were caught in a fire accident there, which led to their tragic death. While the administration is engaged in relief operations, this tragic event requires me to return to Lucknow immediately,” he said while addressing a gathering in Aligarh.
He also confirmed that he had instructed the Director General of Police and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) of Uttar Pradesh to personally visit the site and submit a report. He also indicated that any individual responsible for the incident would be subjected to severe punishment.
“I have directed the Director General of Police and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) of Uttar Pradesh to personally visit the site and submit a report on the matter. We will get to the bottom of the incident and ensure that the guilty are punished,” the Chief Minister said.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak visited the accident site. After the visit, Pathak recounted the horrific escape attempts made by survivors trapped inside the building.
“The injured told us that the fire broke out suddenly. The smoke came from the first floor. When they started to leave, a fire broke out in the stairs, so they ran towards the back. Some people got down using a cable. Those who survived either jumped or used the cable to escape,” Pathak said.
Pathak described the incident as “heartbreaking” and “horrific” and assured the bereaved families that the government would stand by them and ensure justice.
“This is a very big and heart-wrenching incident. We will never forget this incident; it is a lesson for us. The victim families will get justice in all circumstances. The entire government stands with them,” he said.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that post-mortem examinations of the deceased would be conducted by specially constituted teams, and confirmed that a high-level investigation into the incident had been ordered.
“Nothing can be said prima facie now. We will be able to say nothing only after the investigation. However, strict action will be taken against whoever is found guilty,” he said.
The Uttar Pradesh government has announced an ex-gratia $5 lakhs for each family of the deceased $The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said that Rs 50 lakh will be provided to each of the infected people.
Financial assistance from the state government follows ex gratia $2 lakh each to the family of the deceased and $50 lakh for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), announced by PM Modi.
I am pained by the loss of lives in a fire accident in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. My condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover as soon as possible. Rescue operations are underway, and the authorities are providing all possible assistance. As a gift from $2 lakh PMNRF will be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The wounded will be given $50,000: PM,” X’s PMO noted.
It is worth noting that at the training center located in Aliganj area of Lucknow, a massive fire broke out today, killing at least fifteen students and injuring several others. Meanwhile, the cats were rescued from the pet store and clinic located in the same building where the fire broke out.
The fire reportedly broke out in a building housing a library and a computer training institute. According to an eyewitness, the fire caused a state of panic, causing one person to jump from the building, sustaining serious injuries. The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed.
According to Prem Raj Singh, MS, King George’s Medical University (KGMU), most of the deaths were due to suffocation.
Speaking to ANI, Singh said, “15 people were already dead when they were taken to the hospital. The bodies have been sent to the morgue for autopsy. 7-8 more people have also been brought. Two of them sustained minor injuries. One young man appears to have suffered a spinal injury; our doctors are currently treating him.”
He added, “Another young woman was injured in her leg and is also being examined. They all appear to be between 25 and 27 years old. Most of the deaths were due to suffocation.”
Moreover, President Draupadi Murmu expressed grief over the loss of lives. He described the incident as “extremely heartbreaking.” In a post shared on website
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed his condolences for the loss of lives in the incident. He said in a post on the
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (LoP) Rahul Gandhi also expressed his condolences for the loss of lives in the incident. “The news that several people were killed and many others injured in the fire incident that took place at the training center in Lucknow is very heartbreaking. I offer my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Gandhi wrote on X.
Meanwhile, on the precautionary side, the state government has also directed officials to review fire safety standards and ensure that there are proper emergency exit routes in buildings frequented by children and large gatherings to prevent similar incidents in the future.
While the injured are receiving medical treatment, a comprehensive investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the fire, and further details are awaited. (that I)
