LUCKNOW: A TOI reality check across major coaching hubs in the city has revealed serious fire safety lapses days after a fire in a commercial building in Aliganj claimed 15 lives on Monday.Visits to coaching clusters in Kapoorthala, IT Crossing, Sapru Marg and Shahnajaf Road showed a common pattern – narrow staircases, exposed electrical wiring, overcrowded buildings and poor fire safety systems. In several places, fire alarms and sprinklers were missing.At a premier SSC coaching centre in Kapoorthala, fire extinguishers were present and staff were seen conducting a preparedness drill. However, the building lacked a functional fire hydrant system. A pressure gauge showed a near-zero reading, raising doubts about its effectiveness. The centre operates from a commercial complex with a narrow entry and multiple establishments sharing the same structure.The situation was more concerning at Ambika Market near IT Crossing, one of the city’s oldest coaching hubs. Multiple institutes function from upper floors connected by narrow staircases. Walls and ceilings are covered with posters, while electrical wires crisscross student pathways. In many places, cables hang loosely at head level. During peak hours, corridors remain crowded, leaving little space for evacuation.At Shukla Palace on Sapru Marg, a fire extinguisher was installed, but access routes to classrooms were narrow and lined with exposed wiring. The staircase serves as the only entry and exit point for students on upper floors. A similar situation was seen at Shagun Palace, where multiple coaching centres operate from different floors. In Kapoorthala, closely packed buildings, overhead cables and encroachments could obstruct firefighting vehicles.At another coaching complex in Palika Bazaar, tangled wiring ran through stairwells and corridors, with only one visible escape route. Several buildings lacked emergency exit signs, evacuation maps and marked assembly points.“If panic spreads, getting out quickly will be difficult,” said Abhishek Singh, a coaching student.Shivani Verma, a BCom student, said crowded staircases could turn dangerous. “If there is smoke or a short circuit, students will rush together, which can create chaos,” she said. Mohammad Faizan, from Barabanki, said safety awareness was low. “We use these buildings every day but never think about fire safety,” he said.Ritika Mishra, a CLAT aspirant, pointed out congestion during class changeovers. “There is only one staircase and it becomes crowded. In an emergency, it could be a serious problem,” she said.“Exposed wiring is another risk. A small electrical fault can become dangerous because so many students pass through these areas daily,” said Ankit Yadav, a student. At Palika Bazaar, Priyanshu Gupta said evacuation drills were rarely conducted.
