Lucknow Tightens Safety Checks, Over 50 Coaching Centres Face Action After Aliganj Fire

Lucknow authorities have widened their crackdown on coaching centres, libraries and similar establishments after the Aliganj fire tragedy of June 22, in which 15 children were reported dead. More than 50 premises were sealed across the capital on Saturday, while notices were issued to several others for alleged violations of building-use and safety norms.

The action, led by the Lucknow Development Authority, covered prominent coaching hubs and commercial buildings in Gomti Nagar, Aliganj and other areas. Officials said the drive was aimed at checking whether institutions were operating from approved premises and whether fire-safety and building bylaws were being followed. The scale of the action triggered concern among coaching operators, school managers and building owners.

Major coaching centres sealed in Lucknow drive

In Gomti Nagar, the LDA enforcement team sealed Dhyeya IAS at Jeevan Plaza and Chandra IAS in Vijayant Khand. The action was carried out under the supervision of zonal officer Devansh Trivedi. Officials said both centres were found operating in violation of rules related to building use.

More than a dozen other coaching centres in Gomti Nagar also faced sealing action during the day. In Aliganj, where the fire incident has put several commercial education complexes under scrutiny, the authority sealed 11 coaching institutions. Officials are also examining documents linked to other premises connected to the building where the fire took place.

The LDA has issued sealing notices to more than 50 establishments in different parts of Lucknow. These include coaching centres, libraries, gaming zones and other institutions. Officials said premises that fail to respond or comply within the notice period may face sealing in the next round of action.

Operators question sealing, cite valid fire approvals

The enforcement drive has also opened a dispute between authorities and operators. At a workshop held at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, coaching centre owners, school managers and building owners raised strong objections to the manner of action. Several participants alleged that institutions were being sealed without adequate hearing or time to rectify shortcomings.

The LDA asked operators to submit an affidavit related to compliance. Some objected, saying the affidavit appeared to be designed for building owners, while tenants and operators were bearing the immediate consequences. The discussion turned tense several times as operators questioned officials over the sealing of premises they claimed had already met safety requirements.

Aditya from Centurion Academy, Alambagh, asked why the institute was sealed despite having all required norms in place. LDA secretary Vivek Srivastava said such institutions could apply at the LDA headquarters help desk. He said verification would be completed within 24 to 72 hours before a decision is taken.

Gaurav Srivastava of Physics Wallah also raised a similar issue, asking why their office had been sealed despite compliance. Officials said such cases would be reviewed from Monday. Vinay Dixit from Unacademy’s Gomti Nagar centre said the institute had a valid fire NOC until 2027 but was still sealed in an “insulting” manner. His remarks led several operators to stand up and protest the action.

Help desk to review sealed coaching centres

To address complaints from institutions that claim compliance, the LDA will start a special help desk from June 29 at its committee hall. Operators will be able to submit building maps, fire-safety approvals and other documents to seek removal of seals. Officials said applications would be checked within a minimum of 24 hours and a maximum of 72 hours.

The authority has maintained that payment of commercial electricity charges or municipal taxes does not automatically make a building legally fit for commercial educational activity. Officials told operators that approved building use, fire exits, occupancy norms and other bylaws must be followed separately. They also said tenants running institutes could not shift all responsibility to landlords.

Smaller coaching operators said the sudden sealing had hit students and teachers. Priyanka Pathak, who runs a small English coaching centre, said only 25 to 40 students attend classes at her premises and seven fire extinguishers are installed. She said the institute had been unable to complete registration because a fire NOC was pending.

Trader groups also urged the administration to avoid blanket action. Sanjay Gupta, state president of Uttar Pradesh Adarsh Vyapar Mandal, said the Aliganj incident was tragic, but sealing buildings across the city was not a permanent solution. He said the focus should be on ensuring fire safety and enforcing standards in a structured manner.

The Lucknow drive reflects a wider post-tragedy push to inspect places where large numbers of students gather daily. For parents and students, the immediate concern is safety. For operators, the coming days will determine whether sealed institutes can prove compliance and reopen without disrupting classes further.