After Lucknow Fire, UP Cracks Down On Coaching Institutes, Over 100 Sealed For Safety Violations

Last Updated:June 24, 2026, 07:27 IST

The crackdown gathered pace on Tuesday, with authorities issuing notices and sealing institutes found violating safety norms.

Lucknow Coaching Centre Fire: Over 100 coaching institutes were sealed off across Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday over violtaion of safety norms, as the Yogi Adityanath-led government launched a statewide inspection drive to ensure compliance with safety and regulatory norms a day after a devastating fire at a coaching institute in Lucknow’s Aliganj area claimed 15 lives.

Joint teams comprising officials from the district administration, police, fire services, development authorities, and electrical safety departments conducted inspections across major cities, including Lucknow, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Meerut, Agra and other districts. Officials said more than 100 coaching institutes were found violating regulations and faced action, including sealing of premises.

Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay said all district magistrates have been directed to prepare a comprehensive list of coaching institutes operating in their districts and take strict action against those not registered under the Uttar Pradesh Coaching Regulation Act, 2002.

“All district magistrates have been directed to conduct a comprehensive survey of all coaching institutes operating in their respective districts and prepare a list. Strict action, as per rules, is being ensured against institutions that are not registered under the Uttar Pradesh Coaching Regulation Act, 2002," he said as quoted by news agency PTI.

Crackdown Across Uttar Pradesh

The crackdown gathered pace on Tuesday, with authorities issuing notices and sealing institutes found violating safety norms.

In Prayagraj, four coaching institutes, including the Civil Lines branch of Khan Global Studies, were sealed, while officials identified around 50 institutes for similar action. Fire department officials noted that only 15 of the city’s 97 registered coaching institutes had obtained the mandatory fire No-Objection Certificate (NOC).

The enforcement wing of the Kanpur Development Authority and fire department officials began inspections of coaching institutes from Monday evening. By Tuesday evening, more than 30 institutes in Kakadeo, the city’s largest educational hub, had been sealed. All were found violating safety norms.

The most serious violations were found in building basements, which had been approved only for parking purposes but were illegally converted into classrooms accommodating hundreds of students.

Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal said the city had intensified its “Safe Institutions, Safe Kanpur" campaign to ensure compliance with fire and public safety regulations.

In Deoria, a coaching centre was sealed after inspectors found no fire extinguishing equipment on the premises, while two libraries were warned and directed to rectify deficiencies.

Jaunpur district authorities carried out surprise inspections of coaching centres and libraries, finding several shortcomings in fire safety and electrical systems. Notices were ordered against institutions where emergency evacuation arrangements were found inadequate.

In Mau, a joint inspection by administrative and fire department officials uncovered major lapses in fire safety arrangements at malls, restaurants and coaching centres. At one establishment, staff allegedly took nearly an hour to open an emergency exit during a mock check.

Authorities in Moradabad and Amroha launched special drives against institutions operating without mandatory fire safety clearances. Officials said that several coaching institutes were found functioning without valid fire no-objection certificates (NOCs).

In Etah, officials raised concerns over safety compliance at hundreds of coaching centres and digital libraries, many of which are allegedly operating in multi-storey buildings and, in some cases, basements.

Six coaching centres and four libraries were sealed by officials in Mathura on Tuesday.

Officials said two coaching institutes in Noida were shut, while 56 establishments in Ghaziabad, including coaching centres, play schools and dispensaries, were sealed for failing to comply with mandatory fire safety regulations

Similar inspection drives were also launched in Varanasi, Meerut, Mirzapur and other districts, with officials warning of strict action, including sealing of premises, disconnection of utilities and prosecution in cases of non-compliance.

What Happened In Lucknow?

At least 15 people were killed, and nine others sustained injuries after a massive fire engulfed a three-storey commercial building in Lucknow’s Aliganj area on Monday.

The building housed an animation training institute and a pet shop, with most of the victims reported to be young students.

The blaze erupted at around 3 pm in a three-storey commercial building on Usha Mehta Marg in Lucknow’s Purania area, sending thick clouds of smoke billowing into the air and sparking panic in the neighbourhood.

Several students were trapped on the second floor of the animation training institute as the fire rapidly spread through the building.

(With inputs from agencies)

About the Author

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre...Read More

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