A fire in the north Indian city of Lucknow raged through a commercial building that housed a crowded educational center as well as a pet shop and a clinic, killing at least 14 people, officials said.
Firefighters had to hammer through the walls of an adjacent building to reach the people trapped inside. Videos on social media showed people falling out of windows that were engulfed in flames as volunteers rushed to rescue them.
Most of the victims were teenagers aged 16 to 18, said Brajesh Pathak, the deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, where Lucknow is the capital city.
“Because the front side was filled with smoke, the kids ran to the back side. They could not escape from behind also because of the smoke,” Mr. Pathak told reporters.
He said that the cause of the fire was under investigation.
The tragedy comes at a time of heightened anger from students and families at the Indian government, particularly over repeated scandals of exam leaks involving ultra competitive exams that young Indians take to enter medical colleges and to qualify for other government jobs. A new political movement, born out a lack of support from the government for many young Indians who are struggling to find jobs, has been holding protests demanding the resignation of India’s education minister.
The exact nature of what was being taught at the education center was not clear. Some local news reports said it was teaching graphics and animation and providing rented study space that is often used by students preparing for the competitive entry exams.
India’s job stagnation has given birth to a large industry of after-school coaching centers, where tutors prepare students for such exams. These centers are often overcrowded, with little regard for safety hazards.
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