India, June 24 -- Less than a kilometre from the Aliganj building where a fire killed 15 people on Monday, several coaching institutes continue to operate from cramped commercial spaces with limited evacuation options, an HT ground survey found on Tuesday.

The Sector D-Aliganj, Kapurthala and Purania belt is among Lucknow's largest coaching hubs, drawing thousands of students preparing for competitive examinations such as UPSC, NEET, JEE, SSC and banking services. The area is also home to a sizable student population living in rented accommodations near coaching centres. A visit by HT to Kapurthala and Purania found multiple institutes operating from buildings with narrow staircases and no visible secondary exit route for students in cas...