LUCKNOW, June 5 -- A day after the Delhi blaze, a coordinated safety inspection drive was launched in Lucknow as part of the fire and emergency services department's special audit and awareness campaign across Uttar Pradesh on chief minister Yogi Adityanath's directions. According to senior fire department officials, deficiencies were detected in at least 27 of the 35 hotels, restaurants and public clubs inspected during the special drive, translating to roughly 77-80% of the establishments checked.

Director general (Fire Services) Sujeet Pandey led the drive in the state capital.

Officials said the violations ranged from deficiencies in fire safety infrastructure to shortcomings in compliance with mandatory norms. Several establishment...