Many coaching centres in Indore and Bhopal face fire-safety violations

10 Coaching Centers Sealed In Indore During City-Wide Fire Safety Drive

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): As many as 10 coaching centres and buildings were sealed in Madhya Pradesh's Indore on Tuesday over fire safety lapses following a recent coaching centre fire incident in Lucknow.The Lucknow incident had claimed 15 lives, including that of Jaynil Chakraborty (26), a software engineer from Anuppur in Madhya Pradesh.A joint team of the Indore administration, Municipal Corporation, and Fire Department inspected coaching institutes and commercial buildings across the city as part of a safety drive.During the inspection, serious safety lapses were found at a private coaching center in Geeta Bhawan, where officials discovered that the emergency exit was blocked. The institute was subsequently sealed.In total, 10 buildings were sealed for violations of fire safety norms during the drive.Officials said several premises were found with defective or poorly maintained fire safety systems. In multiple cases, emergency exit routes were obstructed, posing a risk during emergencies.A special inspection drive was conducted in the Bhanwarkuan and Geeta Bhawan areas under SDM Ghanshyam Dhangar. Authorities said the drive will continue and action will be taken against buildings lacking adequate fire safety arrangements.Officials also said that action was taken against some buildings where coaching institutes, restaurants, offices, and other commercial activities were operating without proper fire safety compliance.Fire Guts Four Prayer Shops Outside Ujjain's Kal Bhairav Temple; Investigation On-- VIDEOThe administration emphasised that student safety remains the top priority and the campaign has been launched to ensure strict compliance with fire safety norms.Officials clarified that the sealing of premises is temporary and intended to ensure compliance with safety regulations. Building operators have been directed to install fire safety equipment within 15 to 20 days and submit compliance documents to the administration before reopening.They added that permission to reopen will be granted only after inspection and confirmation that prescribed fire safety standards have been met.Over 70% Coaching Centres Fail To Meet Fire Safety Norms In Indore

18 hours ago

Fire Safety Lapses Put Nearly 2 Lakh Students At Risk In Bhopal

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Amidst fire tragedy at a coaching centre in Lucknow, serious concerns have been raised over the safety of thousands of students attending coaching institutes in Bhopal, where fire safety officials admit that a majority of centres lack basic fire safety measures.A safety drive conducted by the district administration in July 2024, following the Delhi coaching centre basement flooding incident that claimed three students’ lives, had identified several violations.During the drive, basement classes operating in six coaching institutes were sealed for breaching safety norms, and authorities had warned of strict action against future violations.However, the enforcement drive lost momentum within days. While two of the affected institutes later resumed library operations in their basements. Others converted the spaces into printing press units.BMC Fire Officer Saurabh Patel said buildings below 15 metres in height, typically four to five storeys, are not required to obtain a Fire No Objection Certificate (NOC). However, all commercial establishments must provide at least two separate exits to ensure safe evacuation during emergencies.Nearly 300 coaching institutes Despite conducting fire safety audits of 25 high-rise buildings across the city, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) had not carried out a comprehensive assessment of the city’s coaching sector until now. According to the BMC’s Building Permission Cell, Bhopal has nearly 300 coaching institutes, including around 200 major centres concentrated in MP Nagar and about 100 smaller institutes spread across other parts of the city. Together, these centres cater to an estimated 2.5 lakh students.Major safety violations detectedNearly 80% centres lack fire exits90% operate with a single common entry/exit gateOfficials revealed widespread safety lapses across coaching institutes. Nearly 80% of centres do not have dedicated fire exits, while around 90% operate with only a single common entry and exit gate, significantly increasing risks during emergencies. Meanwhile, BMC’s audit of high-rise buildings has also uncovered violations. Fire NOCs issued to Tulsi Tower and Paras Apartments are facing cancellation due to non-compliance with safety norms.Inspection team to visit institutes BMC Additional Commissioner Tanmay Sharma told Free Press that a special inspection team will visit coaching institutes across the city on Tuesday to examine fire safety equipment and emergency preparedness measures.Fire safety audit: ADM Speaking with Free Press, ADM Sumit Pandey said after a meeting fire safety arrangements and NOC compliance will be audited across the district, including rural areas. “Coaching institutes will receive special scrutiny, and action will be taken wherever safety violations are found,” said Pandey.Bhopal Metro Services To Remain Suspended For 2 Days For CMRS Signalling Inspection

1 day ago

Over 70% Coaching Centres Fail To Meet Fire Safety Norms In Indore

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): The devastating fire at a coaching centre in Lucknow on Monday, which reportedly claimed the lives of around 15 students, has once again raised serious concerns over fire safety standards at educational institutions across the country.In Indore, considered the educational hub of Madhya Pradesh, the situation appears equally alarming, with nearly 70% of coaching institutes allegedly failing to comply with mandatory fire safety norms.According to available information, Indore is home to nearly 1,800 coaching centres, including around 550 institutes with a student capacity exceeding 300.Most of these centres operate from multi-storey commercial buildings and, barring a handful, lack adequate fire-fighting arrangements. In several cases, institutes reportedly function without basic fire safety equipment such as extinguishers, emergency exits or evacuation plans.Every year, lakhs of students from Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring states come to Indore to prepare for competitive examinations, including the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), State Service Examinations, National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), Common Admission Test (CAT) and Common University Entrance Test (CUET). Parents send their children to the city with hopes of a better future, often unaware of the safety risks that may exist inside coaching facilities.The concern is particularly significant as Indore has witnessed major fire incidents in the past that resulted in loss of life. Despite those tragedies, safety compliance at many coaching institutes remains questionable, exposing lakhs of students to potential danger.Over 500 centres have made safety arrangements, claims ICCARavi Dangi, president of the Indore Coaching Centres Association (ICCA), said more than 1,800 coaching institutes currently operate in the city, with the highest concentration in the Bhawarkuan area. He estimated that over 3 lakh students are enrolled in these institutes.Indore has become a major destination for competitive exam preparation, attracting students from across the country. Ensuring their safety should be a top priority, Dangi said.He said most institutes affiliated to ICCA have made fire safety arrangements. More than 500 institutions have made adequate fire safety arrangements following the directives of District Collector Shivam Verma, he said.102 buildings sealed over violationsMeanwhile, the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has intensified action against establishments violating fire safety regulations.Additional Municipal Commissioner Prakhar Singh said the IMC has been conducting inspections of commercial buildings, including coaching centres, as part of a citywide enforcement drive. We have sealed more than 102 commercial buildings in the past few months for violating fire safety norms, Singh said.He added that the action included coaching institutes found operating without required safety measures. Municipal officials warned that inspections will continue and strict action will be taken against institutions failing to comply with fire safety standards.Over 100 Students Fall Ill After Yoga Day Meal At Shishukunj International School In Indore; Parents Stage Protest -- VIDEO

1 day ago