New Delhi (India) June 24: In response to the horrific fire that gutted a coaching center in Aliganj, Lucknow – killing no less than 15 people and sparking a torrent of outrage and a deep dive into the city’s glaring building code and safety issues, CM Yogi Adityanath’s administration has imposed a blanket ban on coaching centres and all commercial operations in basement spaces across the entire state.
Yogi Orders Action Against Illegal Basement Use
The CM ordered that no basements can be repurposed to function as coaching institutes or for any other commercial venture. Adityanath also instructed state officials to ensure rigid enforcement of all fire safety and disaster management protocols, warning that safety lapses will not be condoned.
Departments are already under orders to pinpoint structures where basements have been exploited for unauthorized purposes and to initiate immediate action to rectify the situation.
District Teams To Conduct Safety Audits
Adityanath has called for special teams in every district to conduct rigorous audit processes and has mandated that every coaching centre be registered, and that fire department No Objection Certificates be visibly displayed in all commercial buildings.
This drive needs to be friendly for the citizens. Firstly, awareness campaigns should be conducted before proceeding to undertake any kind of enforcement, said the CM. He also cautioned that his officers must not bother citizens under the guise of inspections.
AC Short Circuit Suspected In Fire
The blaze broke out on Monday afternoon in a three-storey commercial building in the Aliganj area of the state capital, trapping six pets, among other casualties.
The blaze is believed to have been caused by a suspected air-conditioner short circuit in a pet store and clinic on the ground floor of the building, according to preliminary information, in the midst of widespread concerns about illegal constructions.
CM Yogi Adityanath abandoned a trip to Aligarh and hastened back to Lucknow after hearing of the tragic incident. He then visited KGMU, where he announced compensation of ₹5 lakh each for the kin of those killed in the fire and ₹50,000 each for those seriously injured, as city and state administrations intensified scrutiny of commercial complexes in residential zones - including private institutions - and a review of basement usages in buildings.
He emphasized that the safety and security of public life will not be jeopardized at any cost and has ordered the establishment of a tough, statewide fire safety audit of every government, private, and public space by all government agencies.