The Durg district administration has intensified safety inspections of coaching institutes following the recent fire tragedy at a coaching centre in Aliganj, Lucknow, which claimed the lives of 15 students. On Monday, a team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) carried out a detailed inspection of coaching centres located in Sector-10, Bhilai. During the inspection, serious shortcomings were found in safety arrangements at several institutes. As a result, notices were issued to 20 coaching centres, directing them to rectify all deficiencies within eight days. Officials warned that strict action would be taken against institutions that fail to comply within the stipulated period. District Commandant Nagendra Kumar Singh said inspections of all coaching centres in the district are being conducted in phases. He stated that offline classes should not be conducted in institutions lacking essential safety measures, and online classes may be considered until compliance is ensured.

 

The inspection team found that the most common deficiency was the absence of separate entry and exit routes for students, which are crucial during emergencies. Fire safety arrangements, including fire extinguishers, hose reels, hydrants, smoke detectors, water availability and ventilation systems, were also examined. Nagendra Kumar Singh said coaching staff and students must be trained in the use of fire safety equipment to ensure an effective response during emergencies. He added that coaching centres in Sectors 5, 6 and 7 will also be inspected in the coming days. Earlier, eight coaching institutes in New Civic Centre had been sealed by a joint team of the SDRF and Bhilai Municipal Corporation for violating safety norms.