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Massive fire breaks out at coaching centre in Surat, 23 killed

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7 years ago

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Massive fire breaks out at coaching centre in Surat, 20 killed

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]At least 23 students were killed and several injured after a major fire broke out at a coaching centre in Sarthana area of Surat on Friday (May 24).

Disturbing visuals showed some students jumping off the multi-storey building in an attempt to escape the inferno.

The students were attending tuition classes when the fire broke out at the Takshila building. Officials said at least 10 students on the third and fourth floors jumped to the ground to save themselves from the fire and smoke.

“The fire started near the staircase, so they could not get down,” Joint Commissioner of Police Harikrishna Patel said, adding that all the dead were aged below 20 years.

Nineteen fire tenders and two hydraulic platforms were pressed into service to douse the fire and rescue those stuck inside the building, said an official of Surat fire control room. The fire was doused within an hour. No safety equipment was reportedly installed in the building, added the official.

Amid chaos on the top floor, particularly in the room where children were confined, a class 10 girl student showed presence of mind and calmly followed her teacher to safety, while helping another student.

Urmi Harsukhbhai Vekari, one of the survivors, said, “I had joined this drawing class just three days ago. There were 20-30 boys and girls learning drawing from Bhargav Sir. Suddenly, there was a lot of smoke in the room… initially we thought that somebody had burnt papers. Thereafter we came to know that fire had erupted and everybody panicked and they started jumping off,” Urmi said.

Urmi said she and another girl kept their calm and didn’t panic. “But we saw our sir (teacher) safely lowering down to the railing underneath the window. Putting all my trust in him, I, too, lowered myself and he helped me get on the little space underneath and also helped the other girl. We reached the ground safely on the fire brigade’s ladder which came up to us. Bhargav Sir was the last to come down the ladder,” she said.

According to Urmi, the classes are run at the fine arts institute, where aspiring architects and fine arts students undergo coaching for competitive exams like NATA.

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Expressing anguish, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he has directed the state government and local authorities to provide all possible assistance to those affected.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said at least 19 students died in the fire, his deputy Nitin Patel put the figure at 20.

“As per the information received, 20 students have died in the fire. Many others were injured and shifted to a hospital,” Patel said.

Rupani said the injured are being treated in various hospitals near the incident site. Expressing anguish, he announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the kin of the deceased. The injured children will be given quick and proper treatment, he added.

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Rupani, who ordered an investigation into the incident by Mukesh Puri, principal secretary in the urban development department, later rushed to Surat. He also ordered a fire safety audit of schools, colleges and coaching centres across the state, and visited the injured children in hospitals.

“We have ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident. We will not spare those found guilty,” said Patel. Coaching classes at the centre were run in a shade built on the top floor of the building, he said, adding they “will check if the construction was illegal”.

The audit will find out if educational establishments in the state have proper equipment and facilities to deal with fire incidents. He said the fire audit would also cover hospitals, malls and other commercial buildings of major cities and towns in the state.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text](With Inputs from agencies)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Chaos mars Lionel Messi’s Kolkata GOAT Tour event as fans protest poor arrangements

Lionel Messi’s brief appearance in Kolkata was overshadowed by chaos as fans alleged mismanagement, prompting an apology and an official enquiry by the state government.

Published

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Messy event Chaos kolkata

Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated appearance in Kolkata turned chaotic on Saturday after thousands of fans alleged mismanagement at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan, leaving many unable to even see the Argentine football icon despite holding high-priced tickets

Fans express anger over limited access

The Kolkata leg of the G.O.A.T. Tour was billed as a special moment for Indian football fans, with ticket prices ranging between Rs 5,000 and Rs 25,000. However, discontent grew rapidly inside the stadium as several attendees claimed their view of Messi was obstructed by security personnel and invited guests positioned close to him.

As frustration mounted, some fans resorted to throwing chairs and bottles from the stands, forcing organisers to intervene and cut the programme short.

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Messi reached the venue around 11:15 am and remained there for roughly 20 minutes. He was expected to take a full lap of the stadium, but that plan was abandoned as the situation deteriorated soon after he emerged from the tunnel.

The disorder also meant that prominent personalities, including actor Shah Rukh Khan, former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, could not participate in the programme as scheduled.

Organisers whisk Messi away

With fans breaching security and some vandalising canopies set up at the Salt Lake Stadium, the organisers, along with security personnel, escorted Messi out of the venue to prevent further escalation.

Several attendees described the event as poorly organised, with some fans calling it an “absolute disgrace” and blaming mismanagement for spoiling what was meant to be a celebratory occasion.

Mamata Banerjee apologises, orders enquiry

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee later issued a public apology to Messi and the fans, expressing shock over the mismanagement. She announced the formation of an enquiry committee headed by retired Justice Ashim Kumar Ray, with senior state officials as members.

The committee has been tasked with conducting a detailed probe, fixing responsibility and suggesting steps to ensure such incidents are not repeated in the future.

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Delhi enforces new law to regulate fees in private schools

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Delhi School fees

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The Act establishes a comprehensive framework to govern how private unaided schools fix and collect fees, with a clear emphasis on transparency, accountability and relief for parents facing repeated fee hikes.

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Any surplus generated must either be refunded to parents or adjusted against future fees, according to the notification.

Protection for students and parents

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The law applies uniformly to all private unaided schools in Delhi, including minority institutions and schools not built on government-allotted land.

School-level committees to approve fees

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Schools must submit their proposed fee structure to the committee by July 31. The committee can approve or reduce the proposed fees but cannot increase them. Once finalised, the fee structure will remain fixed for three academic years.

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The Delhi government had earlier described the legislation as a significant step towards curbing arbitrary fee hikes after widespread complaints from parents at the start of the academic session.

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Dangerous pollution levels have become a recurring concern in Delhi during the winter months. On Friday as well, a thick haze covered the city, with the overall AQI recorded at 386 and visibility remaining poor in several localities.

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