On June 22, 2026, a fire at an animation training centre in Lucknow, India, resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 15 individuals, primarily students. The incident occurred in the Aliganj area of Uttar Pradesh's capital. Among the 21 students present, two sustained serious injuries.
Videos on social media depicted chaotic scenes, with individuals escaping via windows, highlighting the urgent nature of the crisis. Witnesses, including employees at the centre, described the rapid spread of smoke that made evacuation challenging.
Firefighters faced significant obstacles as they worked to gain entry through dense smoke, utilizing exhaust fans for ventilation and searching for survivors. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, igniting conversations around safety standards in high-traffic establishments.
