Desperate final phone calls from trapped victims have emerged following a fire at a coaching centre in Lucknow, India, on June 3, 2024.

The tragedy highlights the extreme danger faced by students and staff in commercial buildings that lack adequate fire safety and emergency exits.

The blaze occurred in a three-story [3] commercial building located in the Aliganj neighbourhood of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. As smoke filled the structure, victims made frantic calls to their families. Abdul Rahman, a 21-year-old employee at the centre, said, "Papa, mujhe bacha lo" [1].

Another unnamed father said, "I heard my son crying for help, saying ‘Papa, please save me’ while the smoke was everywhere" [2]. Some victims remained on the line with relatives until rescue teams reached them. One survivor said the fire trapped them and they spoke to their mother until rescuers broke through a wall [3].

Reports on the casualties vary. The Indian Express reported that 22 people were killed [2], while Moneycontrol reported the death toll as 21 [1]. Additionally, 15 people were injured [1].

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire. The Indian Express reported that a short-circuit is the likely cause [2], though other reports indicate the exact cause remains under investigation [3]. The building served as a hub for students seeking academic coaching, a common feature of urban educational districts in India.

Emergency responders worked to penetrate the smoke-filled floors to extract survivors. The recorded calls have since become a focal point for families seeking accountability for the lack of safety measures in the Aliganj facility.

“"Papa, mujhe bacha lo"”

This incident underscores a recurring systemic issue in Indian urban centers where commercial residential buildings are converted into coaching centers without adhering to fire safety codes. The fact that victims were trapped in a three-story building suggests a critical failure in emergency egress, potentially leading to stricter regulatory oversight of private educational facilities in Uttar Pradesh.