A massive fire at a coaching centre in Lucknow's Aliganj area claimed 14 lives and left several injured. Students jumped from the building to escape the flames as firefighters and rescue teams battled the blaze.

Lucknow: At least 14 students have been confirmed dead in the devastating fire that broke out at a coaching centre in Lucknow's Aliganj area on Monday, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said to PTI.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak while speaking with the media said, "A total of 13 children have just been brought out. They've all been taken to the hospital. It's a serious incident. Inside, there's smoke. This was an animation center when the fire unexpectedly started. Kids used to come here to learn how to make cartoons. I still don't know exactly how the incident began. The KGMC Trauma Center is receiving the injured. They were between 16 and 17 years old."

The fire erupted at a coaching institute operating in the Purnia area of Aliganj, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky and forcing students to scramble for safety. In dramatic scenes witnessed by locals, several students jumped from the building to escape the rapidly spreading flames.

Students leap from building as fire spreads