LUCKNOW, June 24 -- A day after the Aliganj tragedy, Hindustan Times conducted a comprehensive reality check at various institutes, coaching centres, computer centres, libraries and small workplaces on Tuesday.

The reality check revealed a template of negligence - thousands of students daily enter claustrophobic, multi-storey structures that lack basic fire safety compliance and are effectively ticking time bombs.

However, the usually bustling student hubs wore a deserted look. Panicked by the government's announcement of a strict safety audit and fearing immediate official checking drives, a majority of major coaching institutes, libraries, and small workplaces chose to shut shop, at least for a few days.

"Their closure shows that the...