At least 15 people died in a fire at a coaching institute in Lucknow's Aliganj area on Monday. According to doctors, most of the deaths in the incident were due to smoke inhalation and respiratory problems.

Prem Raj Singh, Medical Superintendent of King George's Medical University, told ANI, "Fifteen people were already dead when they were brought to the hospital. The bodies have been sent for postmortem. Seven to eight more were brought to the hospital in a semi-conscious state. Two of them have minor injuries. One youth appears to have suffered serious back injuries, our doctors are treating them."

"Most of them appear to have died due to smoke inhalation," Singh said. 

The fire broke out in a building that housed a library and a computer training institute. According to an eyewitness, there was a lot of panic when the fire broke out and one person jumped from the building and was seriously injured.

Meanwhile, the French news agency AFP reported on the fire, saying, 'Fourteen children have died and dozens more have been injured or sickened in a fire in Lucknow, India.'

The news, published by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, did not specify whether all the dead were students or anyone else. 

Rs 2 lakh each to be provided to the relatives of the deceased

Expressing grief over the loss of lives in the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. 

In a statement issued on X, the Prime Minister's Office said that Rs 2 lakh each will be provided to the relatives of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.

In a message issued by the Prime Minister's Office, it was said, 'I am shocked by the news of the loss of lives in the fire accident in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. My condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Rescue work is underway and the authorities are providing all possible assistance.'

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also visited the incident site. Addressing a program in Aligarh, he had said that after getting information about the Lucknow incident, he would cut short his Aligarh visit and return to Lucknow immediately. 'I have received information about the incident in Lucknow. Some students have been caught in a fire there and they have tragically died. The administration is carrying out rescue operations, but due to this tragic incident, I am returning to Lucknow immediately,' the Chief Minister had said. 

The Chief Minister said that he has directed the Director General of Police and the Additional Chief Secretary of the Union Home Ministry to go to the incident site and submit a report.