India, June 24 -- In the wake of a deadly fire at a coaching centre in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, which claimed 15 lives two days ago, the Odisha government on Wednesday directed all District Collectors and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) to conduct immediate fire safety audits of educational institutions, coaching centres, and skill development hubs across the state.

In an official directive, Special Relief Commissioner and Managing Director of OSDMA, Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, asked district authorities to carry out field inspections to ensure strict compliance with the Odisha Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Rules, 2017, the amended 2025 rules, and other applicable safety regulations.

District administrations have also bee...