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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nNew Delhi: Monday\u2019s devastating fire at a commercial complex housing a coaching centre in Lucknow has rekindled memories of the 2023 Mukherjee Nagar coaching centre blaze, turning the spotlight back on the abysmal state of fire safety measures in congested student hubs in the city.In Lucknow, the fast-moving fire trapped dozens of young aspirants inside as heavy smoke choked the inner areas of the building, forcing panicked students to leap from the upper floors.The scene mirrored the horror of Delhi\u2019s Mukherjee Nagar blaze, where students were forced to smash windows and slide down external cables after a short circuit cut off access to the only building exit. Many had jumped as well to save their lives.Data shows that since 2025, over 100 fire incidents have been reported in educational institutions in Delhi. While systemic cleanups and safety audits are routinely promised by administrations following such heart-wrenching tragedies, a look at neighbourhoods with a large population of students reveals a reality that is different from the promises.In Delhi, commercial hubs like Old Rajendra Nagar and Mukherjee Nagar have become synonymous with structural and regulatory failures, but the crisis extends to other heavily crowded student clusters like Katwaria Sarai and Sheikh Sarai.In these localities, thousands of competitive exam aspirants live and study in highly compromised spaces. Residential properties are converted into commercial coaching hubs and crammed libraries where standard fire codes and building bylaws are not followed.Atul Garg, former Delhi Fire Services chief, said: \u201cOvercrowding remains a major concern, with institutes often admitting far more students than their capacity. If a classroom is meant for 30 students, they often pack in 80 to 100. In such situations, panic spreads quickly and movement becomes difficult. Fire tenders also face delays due to congested lanes and poor accessibility. \u201d\u201cMost students and even teachers have no training on how to respond during a fire. There are no evacuation drills, no emergency preparedness, and often not even functional fire extinguishers,\u201d he added.The structural hazards in these areas are evident to any visitor. Narrow, single-staircase entryways are routinely blocked by heavy storage or ground-floor electrical meter panels. If a short circuit occurs at the base of a building, it blocks the only exit. This is the exact layout flaw that proved dangerous in the Mukherjee Nagar incident.Compounding the risk is a dangerous web of hanging overhead wires, a near-total absence of emergency exits, and completely unventilated, overcrowded rooms that turn these buildings into death traps.Previous safety investigations by the Delhi Fire Service have also highlighted that an overwhelming majority of these institutes operate without a valid fire no-objection certificate.<\/div>\n