NHRC Takes Cognisance Of Lucknow Coaching Centre Fire, Seeks Action Taken Report Within 2 Weeks

Last Updated:June 29, 2026, 12:15 IST

NHRC has directed Lucknow authorities to submit an action taken report within two weeks and ensure strict compliance with the 2024 Coaching Centre safety guidelines.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of the devastating fire at a coaching centre in Lucknow’s Aliganj area and issued notices to the Lucknow District Magistrate (DM) and the Police Commissioner, directing them to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within two weeks, according to a copy of the notice accessed by CNN-News18.

The Commission acted after a complaint alleged that the multi-storey building where the June 22 fire occurred lacked mandatory fire safety measures and violated building safety norms.

The complaint stated that the blaze claimed the lives of 15 people and left several others injured.

According to the notice accessed by CNN-News18, the complainant sought the intervention of the NHRC for an independent inquiry into the incident, fixing accountability of the officials responsible for the alleged lapses, compensation for the victims, and steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The complaint also requested the Commission to examine alleged fire safety and building compliance lapses, the safety of students and educational establishments, the adequacy of emergency preparedness and evacuation systems, and the accountability of regulatory authorities and erring public servants.

It further sought directions for ensuring necessary medical treatment for all injured students.

The NHRC, while issuing notices to the Lucknow DM and Police Commissioner, has sought a detailed Action Taken Report within two weeks.

In addition, the Commission has directed the authorities 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, Government of India, and submit a compliance report in this regard.

The complaint before the Commission alleged that the fire broke out in a multi-storey building housing a coaching centre, library, animation studio and other commercial establishments in Aliganj, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a two-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the tragedy.

The SIT, comprising Additional Chief Secretary Amrit Abhijat and Additional Director General of Police (Lucknow Zone) Praveen Kumar, visited the site on June 23 and began examining the circumstances that led to the fire.

The senior officials inspected the badly charred building for possible violations that may have turned it into what investigators described as a “death trap" for students.

A forensic team also visited the premises to collect evidence and determine the exact cause of the blaze.

The fire broke out at around 3 pm on June 22 in a residential building that had allegedly been illegally converted into a commercial establishment.

The building housed an animation centre along with other establishments, and many students were trapped on the upper floor as the fire spread rapidly.

Preliminary findings suggested that the fire originated in the building’s air-conditioning duct, while thick smoke caused suffocation of many occupants.

The report also noted that the building allegedly lacked an adequate exit route, making evacuation difficult during the emergency.

The building owners are under investigation for alleged violations of building by-laws and construction norms.

Following the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the fire site to review the situation and later met the injured victims undergoing treatment at a hospital.

About the Author

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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