- 7 weeks ago
By the time emergency responders arrived, thick smoke had engulfed the building's enclosed interiors, severely hampering rescue efforts. With no alternative emergency exits or external evacuation routes available, firefighters faced significant challenges in reaching those trapped inside and had limited options for carrying out rescue operations.
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NewsTranscript
00:1415 young lives lost who is to blame
00:23locked doors no exit no escape
00:33safety rules ignored lives destroyed
00:44a death trap built in plain sight
00:5315 dead blood on whose hands
01:00not just a fire a man-made disaster
01:10arrests made but is that enough
01:18how many more lives before the system
01:21learns
01:26top focus on india today
01:33good evening and welcome ladies and gentlemen i'm puja shali on to the point this evening i'm going to ask
01:38two specific questions one about the accountability with the incident that has taken place in luck now have no lessons
01:46been learned at all repeated instances of fire hazards turning into loss of life
01:51and two what is wrong with our 20-somethings in the country an age group where you're full of dreams
01:58but some are resorting to plain murder first the headlines
02:06glaring lapses emerge after the deadly inferno in luck now no emergency exit or stair space building lagged necessary permits
02:13four officials suspended and four accused also arrested
02:15if i registered against the building owner
02:23two days after the neat retest was finally conducted across india the man in center of the storm speaking to
02:29india today education minister dharma indra pradhan accusing rahul gandhi of fear-mongering among students
02:34and
02:36In his mind, there will be no fear in his mind.
02:39There will be a need for it.
02:41One day before he will go to the need,
02:43where there will be a lot of children.
02:45He will stand up in his hands.
02:49Shocker from Maharashtra is Pune.
02:51Woman pushes her fiance.
02:53Ketan Agarwal from Lohagarh Fort.
02:56Investigators say,
02:57accused Tia Goyal and her alleged partner,
03:00one Chetan Chaudhary,
03:01who have been arrested by Pune police.
03:03They pushed the young man, Ketan Agarwal,
03:06because she didn't want to marry him.
03:13Chief Minister Vijay versus L.O.P. Udayanidi Stalin
03:16board awards in Tamil Nadu Assembly.
03:17Tamil Nadu Chief Minister levels big corruption charge
03:20on the Dravidar Marieta Karagam,
03:21says TASMAG revenue diverted to party funds.
03:24Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also mimicking former Chief Minister.
03:26Leader of Opposition Udayanidi Stalin hits back,
03:29says stop acting, start governing.
03:35People's Padma Awards.
03:36India's unsung heroes honoured at the Rashtrapati Bhawan,
03:39actors Mahmuthi, Armadwan, Singharal Khayagnik,
03:42and former Team India Captain Rohit Sharma conferred with the Padma Awards.
03:5615 lives lost, most of them under 24 years of age.
04:01A building that was supposed to be a shop, a pet clinic, a coaching centre, a gaming zone,
04:06all of that reduced to a death trap.
04:08But with every passing day the questions are only turning more serious and dangerous.
04:13The fact that time is running out and we're not learning any lessons.
04:16The one big question that has surfaced now,
04:19how did a commercial establishment operate without a fire in a sea and continue to function?
04:25Why was there only one narrow escape route, both as entry and exit points?
04:30And then, how did a biometric door become a barrier between life and death?
04:35Because it was that big gate that locked so many of people inside in that building and they couldn't escape
04:41death.
04:42Arrests have been done already.
04:44At least four joint owners of the building have been taken in custody.
04:47SIT investigation is underway.
04:49But let's take a look first at this report by our colleagues,
04:52Samar Srivastav, Santosh Sharma as well,
04:54who are trying to ascertain one the aftermath in that building
04:58and then the ones who are left behind without a closure from their loved ones.
05:12A tragedy that has shaken the entire nation.
05:16The glaring safety lapses make the Lucknow tragedy even more painful.
05:20These lapses turned a building into a death trap that engulfed 15 innocent lives.
05:26On Monday afternoon, a massive fire broke out in a three-storey building in Lucknow's Aliganj area.
05:31Just one way in and one way out,
05:34the three-storey box-like building became a furnace for students who succumbed to suffocation and flames.
05:53The floor that had housed the animation institute had an automatic door,
05:57operated with a biometric lock.
05:59The door got shut during the fire, trapping those inside.
06:04The building had a single narrow staircase linking the upper floors to the ground floor
06:08and basement, further limiting movement as smoke filled the premises.
06:14This is the impression of the basement, the complex basement,
06:18where it went on.
06:20You think that the three floors of the basement,
06:22the whole building and the basement was different.
06:25There was a construction of four floors,
06:28and this was a box room.
06:30There was no need for entry and exit.
06:32There was no need for entry and exit.
06:33There was no need for entry and exit.
06:36There was no need for entry and exit.
06:40The lone access route was lined with air-conditioning panels,
06:43tangled wires and other equipment fixed along a narrow passage,
06:47leaving those inside with little room to escape once the fire spread.
07:14The tragedy is also prompted questions over how a commercial box-like building was operating in a residential area.
07:21With no fire NOC in place.
07:25When the residential area was in the residential area,
07:30there was a shopping complex complex.
07:31There were three shops, coaching centers, pets shops,
07:34and then there was a studio, and there were shops.
07:38So the LDA officers, the Bidjali Bhaag, are responsible for their responsibility.
07:42This is the whole problem.
07:45Multiple building owners have been arrested,
07:47officials have been suspended.
07:49Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered an SIT probe,
07:52but can the government ensure that man-made disasters are not repeated?
07:57With Santosh Sharma, Bira Report, India Today.
08:04And clearly on a story like this, I'm not going to indulge in a political debate.
08:08Our netas can do that if it suits them.
08:10I want to have answers to ensure that this incident does not face a repeat anywhere across the country.
08:16So on the panel, I have with me who've had experience directly concerning incidents like these.
08:22Naveen Bhatnagar, former DIG NDRF, has led several operations when it comes to not just fire, of course,
08:28but disaster issues, and understands the timing of it, the constraints of it and more.
08:34Atul Garg is former Director, Delhi Fire Services.
08:37He has supervised the fire rescue operations for six years since 2019,
08:40has led several operations of firefighting across national capital.
08:44Yashavardhan Azad, of course, as a former IPS officer, Special Director, Intelligence Bureau,
08:48has been a regular on our panel on India Today.
08:51And then, Shekhar Krishnamurti.
08:54Shekhar Krishnamurti is the General Secretary of the Association of Victims of Upahar Tragedy.
09:00And I want to add here, I was a child, but I vividly remember when the news flashed of the
09:05fire at Upahar Cinema in Delhi.
09:07Border film had released and was being screened.
09:1159 lives were claimed in that fire incident.
09:14Among them were teenage children of Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamurti.
09:19With the courage they have shown, I cannot even imagine what they must have gone through at that point.
09:24They fought three decade long legal fight against owners of the cinema for violations, for accountability.
09:31Now, Upahar cinema should have been enough of a game changer for India.
09:34But no, we continue to face such horror incidents in the years to come.
09:40Shekhar Krishnamurti ji, I want to begin with you.
09:43It's been over 30 years.
09:45When you look at incidents like this, when you heard of the Lucknow fire blaze against children here.
09:50Teenage children who possibly went for coaching or to just be at these gaming zones and others.
09:57What was your first thought, sir?
09:59Because this is a news similar you must have received when the Upahar cinema fire happened.
10:05Yeah, it's a deja vu moment for us.
10:07And just recently, about 15-20 days back, I was in the panel in India today discussing the Malayanagar fire.
10:14Yes.
10:14Unfortunately, nothing has been learned.
10:17After Upahar, we have seen so many tragedies.
10:20We have seen the exhibition ground tragedy in Mirat and so many others in Delhi.
10:25But everywhere you will see one common point, means of access.
10:32That is the biggest problem in these buildings, commercial buildings.
10:36I don't know how they are allowed.
10:37Number two, these days they have automated doors, which it's a hazard when the fire tragedy happens like this.
10:46In Malayanagar, it got jammed.
10:48Same in Lucknow, it got jammed.
10:50What has been learned?
10:51The only thing in this country is that these things are allowed by people filling their coffers.
11:00The only problem with this is that corruption has to be rooted out.
11:03That is the biggest problem in this country.
11:05Once the corruption is rooted out, I'll tell you, for example, I don't want to go back to Upahar because
11:09Upahar was about 30 years.
11:10When an embassy was given in Upahar by an officer, the day he was on casual leave.
11:18And what happened?
11:20He was convicted of the Supreme Court.
11:23Ansals were convicted of the Supreme Court.
11:24What happened?
11:25They said, oh, you've gone old.
11:28So you pay 30 crores each to the Delhi government and Delhi fire service guy said, okay, you pay 10
11:33lakh rupees to Delhi government for building a trauma center.
11:36The trauma center has not come up as yet.
11:39We don't know what's happened.
11:40Now we understand when we went to the Supreme Court, they said that this money, which has been deposited with
11:46Ansals and the Delhi fire service guy, it has been put in the budget allocation.
11:51So what is it?
11:52People don't, there is no sanctity even for directions of the Supreme Court.
11:56So are you saying a lot of talk, sir, but nothing implemented?
11:59No, I'll tell you one more thing.
12:01After any tragedy, you'll see condolences, compensation, inquiry.
12:07What happens?
12:08Nothing.
12:08Now all this will be forgotten one week.
12:10What happened after Malibya Nagar?
12:12Two days, 15 days, nothing happened.
12:14Now again, now Lucknow, we don't know.
12:16We are sitting in a, actually sitting in a bomb, a ticking bomb.
12:19I'm sorry to say this.
12:21No, I, I fairly agree with you.
12:23I think everybody agrees.
12:24And you know, that's a conversation I've heard around me, that it feels like everybody's sitting on a certain ticking
12:29time bomb.
12:30You just don't know where you could be and such an incident would happen.
12:34How are we supposed to know?
12:35It can happen with anybody.
12:36It can happen with anybody.
12:37How are we supposed to know where the NOC is coming?
12:39Sir, please stay on with me.
12:40Yashavardhan Azad, this is, you've been on enough panels when it comes to incidents like this.
12:44Who is accountable?
12:45Is it the government in power or governments in power?
12:48Is it the corruption at the root cause?
12:50Because the issue here is everyone's talking about it.
12:52Paisa lo or chalte vano.
12:55That's what happens.
12:56That everyone is allowed a violation because you can pay up at least a few people around you.
13:01It's actually the urban governance which is completely in disarray.
13:05And our cities today are failing the citizens.
13:09Time and again, you know, it's a violation of the urban planning laws.
13:13It's a violation of the regulation with impunity because nothing happens.
13:18You know, in 2026, there have been a spate of fires in this country.
13:23Average, we lose about 13,000 to 15,000 lives.
13:27And in Delhi alone in the first quarter, 39 lives have been lost.
13:31Now, in these cases, whether you, in 2026, the same absence of regulation is reflected in Lucknow, in Delhi, in
13:42Bhivari, in Rajasthan, in Virutana, in Tamil Nadu.
13:46The question is that in Lucknow, right in front of your face, if a residential area building is turned into
13:55a commercial property and made into a death trap, then obviously you're sitting right under the nose of a land
14:03development authority whose boss is a senior IS officer.
14:08And nothing happens.
14:10So, you know, that is why whenever there is a tragedy like this, very well pointed out, two things are
14:16done.
14:17One is, we will give you compensation.
14:20And second, we will give you compensation.
14:22But never a politician, never an opposition or never anybody suggests, no, there has to be a change in the
14:32urban governance.
14:34Today, the MLA's are not interested in the cities except earning money.
14:39All the laws which have been violated, who overlooks them or who overseers them by an officer who's there for
14:46three years deputation?
14:48He's not interested.
14:49Who should we then be responsible for this?
14:52The MLA, you mean?
14:54The land authority chief should be responsible for this.
14:58The municipal corporation who passed the building laws should be responsible for this.
15:03In this case, the Lucknow Development Authority has said we have given a notice to the complex owners and they'll
15:08be waiting for a week for compliance.
15:11To me, it just sounds like protocol because this should have beenā¦
15:14No, it doesn't mean it.
15:15It should have been sealed because it was a death trap.
15:19It was a death trap, yes.
15:21Sir, I'll come to you. Let's take opening comments from everyone.
15:23Now, Atul Ghar, who's the former director of Delhi Fire Services, the one issue that keeps coming in here is
15:30who gave the fire NOC?
15:32Why did the fire department not play more caution?
15:35We've seen it in Malweanagar, we've had those complaints in Lucknow as well and elsewhere.
15:39How much is the role of the fire service and fire department?
15:44Of course, I want to first appreciate the work that firefighters did.
15:48I'm not taking it away from them had it not been for a timely rescue by them.
15:52Perhaps more lives could have been lost.
15:55But having said that, sir, it's the fire NOC that usually comes as a question often in these cases was
16:02something amiss.
16:03How do you think that whether or not inquiry but a certain protocol needs to be followed?
16:09See, you should understand how fire NOC is being given.
16:14Fire department is merely a technical department where the case is being referred to the building authority, other authority in
16:21Delhi like MCD, DD and then the LTA.
16:24And then fire officer go on inspection, then he recommend the case.
16:26In this case, Malweanagar, Palam, Mundka, Vivek, all the cases, these were the residential buildings converted to the commercial buildings.
16:36In residential buildings, you don't require NOC, fire NOC, don't require much fire safety arrangement and you get the construction
16:43permit, whatever you get it.
16:44Now you are converting it, now the conversion is being done by the building development authorities, like in Delhi MCD.
16:52It is the primary responsibility of the LTA there in Lucknow and in Delhi MCD that they should not allow
17:00any commercial activity till this building is compliant with the fire safety arrangement.
17:04Because you are taking taxes, DST department is also taking, you know, tax because the coaching center is running, they
17:10must be paying a service tax.
17:12Same, the electric department, residential building converted to commercial building, why don't you check it whether they meet the requirement,
17:19where the load, you are increasing the load without taking any account.
17:22In-house, you have a 5 kilowatt, more than enough, now you have so many cases, 40 kW, so how
17:28it has been given?
17:29So, it is a, I must say, it is a failure of LTA department, they have to look into this
17:35department, they have to see how building is converted to the commercial.
17:38And commercial use of a residential building should be stopped, there should be a single-noted authority, all licences, all
17:47references will be given after the building is fire compliant.
17:50So, who is supposed to check that there is, that enough fire hazards are taken care of, that there are
17:55escape plan, exit routes, that should be the responsibility of the fire services?
18:01Madam, yes, but when the case is, the fire department does not have a power to go and check the
18:07unauthorized building, he cannot take any action about this building, this all building are unauthorized building, violating all the rules,
18:15not a single rule, all the rules.
18:16No stair case, no fire safety arrangement, distal lock, glass wall, all is, you know, all is sealed very tightly
18:25so that no air can pass.
18:26Clearly, multiple systems here, yes.
18:29Multiple system failure, no fire safety arrangement, nothing, everything is failed.
18:34Naveen Bhatnagar, because as a former DIJ NDRF, there are all kinds of operations that you have supervised.
18:39In issues like this, I heard one of the survivors and parent of one of the, one of those who
18:44died say, the rescue reached late.
18:48How important do you think, sir, in times like these is the time constraint to have the resources with the
18:55fighters?
18:56Exactly.
18:57Time is the main constraint about it.
19:01As long as we will reach, as early as we can reach the spot, we can save the life of
19:08the people in maximum time.
19:13So time is the main constraint about it.
19:17So as we will make delay, so our principal will fail to save the life.
19:23So the fire department people who reached there, in fact, they were not so trained in the rescue operations.
19:33And due to the circumstances, as already it was pointed out by everybody, that there was one staircase and the
19:46door was locked, biometric door lock system was there.
19:50No fire door was installed there.
19:54No fire paint was installed there.
19:57No sprinkling system was installed.
20:01No smoke detector was installed.
20:03So, so many problems and so many lacunas were reported there.
20:09That is why it happened.
20:10Otherwise, people can save their life.
20:14Even then, no second opening was there.
20:17No second door or staircase was there.
20:21Who do you think, sir?
20:23Who do you think is accountable?
20:25Because everyone will say, it's the other department.
20:27It's the, it's the other official who's responsible.
20:30Who do you think, sir, needs to be held accountable?
20:32Actually, actually, the owner of this building, number eight, number two, the institute head, who was running this dangerous situation.
20:43And this institute, he is the number two.
20:46And number three is the fire department and police department, who were having the regular check in such type of
20:55buildings and the exactly thing.
20:57And moreover, the development authority, LDA.
21:02Because in 2016, it was, this building was abandoned and required to demolish.
21:10But I don't know how they were managed and running this dangerous building from there up and then to this
21:19time.
21:19So, definitely, all the people who are on the administration, as well as the owner, as well as the institute
21:29head and the parents also, why they have not checked about it that there is a dangerous institute just to
21:38save few pennies.
21:39So, I mean, I think expecting parents to check if the safety is in place in a place like this,
21:44I don't think that would be possible.
21:46No, no, why not possible? Your safety is your responsibility, why?
21:52How you can say, there is a cross in the NDMA Act 2005 and policy 2009, section 10 and 11,
22:02a training is must mandate.
22:04Sir, if my child goes to, I get what you're saying, but if my child goes to a, let's say,
22:08a coaching center, I think, I believe that the safety measures have been taken care of.
22:13But from what you're saying now, sir, as a parent, I'll have to go and check because watching what is
22:19happening, I would rather go and check it myself than depend on our authorities.
22:24Yashvardhan Azad is, sir, I'll come back to you, sir. Yashvardhan Azad is raising an interjection. Go ahead, sir.
22:28I think we should have a more focused approach when we look at the failures.
22:34Now, please, I mean, it's not the job of the fire unit has got thousands and thousands of such where
22:40they have given clearances.
22:42They can't go and check every building, nor is the job of the police to check buildings and how many
22:47cubicles are there.
22:48No, not at all. Not even the parents, unless they feel scared for their own children.
22:53It is the job of the municipality. It is the job of the municipality that whether to see these buildings
23:00have a building plan, how these vision holes are coming out everywhere, how they have violated every norm of a
23:07residential area and build a commercial establishment over there and to fix the responsibility.
23:13The people who are actually, you know, in real life, all these commercial establishments depend on the local thanedar, tasildars,
23:22the local councillor, the local assistant engineers, and this is the network which breeds corruption.
23:28But is it okay to suspend them? I have a quick word from everyone here, but for officials who have
23:34been suspended, an executive engineer, assistant engineer, a fire department official and a junior engineer, I would say that's going
23:40after the small fish.
23:41I am sure the money goes up high as well, if there is this bribe charge that often comes in,
23:45or of negligence. Quickly.
23:50Yes.
23:50Yes.
23:51Quickly, first you then to other panelists.
23:53It is 100% looking away of the top officials, because they don't want any conflict with the politicians.
24:00Either you are put away, or you are not listened to.
24:04Shekhar Krishnamurthy, when these incidents happen and we see the kind of announcements are made, suspend so and so, as
24:10a father who lost teenage sons, and I am sure you have memories, you must have built a future together
24:16with the family.
24:17How does a parent in this situation, someone like you, lives for the next few years thinking, what are the
24:24lessons learnt?
24:25Because, I am watching these other parents and this is without a closure, that they have to live the rest
24:30of their life while compensations are announced.
24:33There can never be a closure.
24:35There can never be a closure for parents who lost their children.
24:38You know, the question here is that, we are now wanting to, you know, bring in a fire safety culture.
24:48And our, me and my wife's, you know, like most of that, it's not happened to any other parents what's
24:54happened to us.
24:55That was the more end-deeper.
24:57So, the question here is that, mere suspension is not going to help.
25:01You know, it's a big, you know, you know, what's happened that even if you go to, you know, charge
25:06sheet a government officer, you need a sanction under section 197, it will never come through.
25:11Like Mr. Azad said, it goes right to the top, corruption doesn't stay in the lower level.
25:17No officer is going to be given a sanction to be prosecuted.
25:21Now, coming to the fire department, fire department again, today I heard in Anar's channel, that the fire department said,
25:27no, this building is less than 15 meters, so we have no responsibility towards this.
25:30See, it's, you know, like, I don't know, this is the kind of system we are living in.
25:36That means, you know, the person who is going, suppose you send your children to a coaching center which is
25:40less than 15 meters, isn't there like, they're not going to do any inspection and people are going to be
25:44at Rambarose.
25:46I don't understand.
25:47What kind of system?
25:48Atulgarh, yes.
25:49When a fire department official is among the four who has been suspended, do you think that's a fair inquiry
25:55that happens or do you think much more needs to be done?
25:58Because, eventually, it is also as much the responsibility of the fire department.
26:04See, this is an inquiry that has to be happened, they have just suspended it, but I am still saying
26:10it.
26:10Yes, sir.
26:11Fire department is not responsible for this, because it is very correct that Krishnamurti has said that the 15 meters
26:17less than building, 15 meters is not required, and government is liberizing the rule now.
26:22More rules are coming out where everything is a self-certification now. No need of a fire officer to go
26:28to infection. Already, it has been done in most of the state, and it will be limited very soon.
26:34Now, self-certification will be there. The fire officer will not go for infection for any building. This has been
26:40already done, and the government is moving towards the heat of doing self-certification.
26:45So, the charges of corruption on the fire department will go away, finally. Now, you have a chance to hire
26:51any lawyer, like lawyer, as a fire auditor, and then go get the inspected building done, keep the fire system
26:56ready, and then submit the certificate.
26:58Things are improving. Now, government is doing it. The corruption will go away, as you always blame, when there is
27:05a fire, there is a corruption. Fire department did not.
27:08And fire department is a very small department. In Delhi also, we have a chance for 3,000, almost 400
27:15.
27:17And see how the Chile is growing, how the Lucknow is growing. When I was in Lucknow, it was very
27:22small, now it is a five-time war.
27:23So there also has to be protocol that if fire NOCs have to be given that it could be simpler
27:28for the department as much.
27:30My final question is to Naveen Bhatnagar.
27:33Sir, let's also quickly talk about the rescue operations.
27:36Do you believe that one, when rescue like this happens, it's usually the local police or the fire department is
27:41rushed in?
27:42Do they need to have better resources?
27:44I saw a policeman, bravely or possibly a firefighter, was bravely using a hammer to dig through a back wall
27:51to take out the survivors.
27:52I can only imagine the time that takes.
27:54Do you think as NDRF also has important resources, they should be locally made available so that we don't waste
28:00time trying to dig a wall, put a ladder.
28:03There has to be better emergency measures available to our fighters.
28:07Now is the best time to government.
28:10Government should think over it to train their fire people as well as the police people in rescue operations.
28:17Because I know, and I had a talk with the fire department, the police department, they are utterly failed in
28:26the rescue operations.
28:27They don't know how to make rescue in such type of situation.
28:31And the things or the instruments require for this purpose.
28:36As our NDRF people, we have all the latest equipments with us and also the drill, rescue drill, we are
28:45regularly giving the training to our people as well as, if the government wants, our NDRF people can train the
28:54police people as well as the fire department people.
28:57And also there are so many students running in India who are able to give such time of training.
29:06But the government should approach them and the people should take it.
29:11I see Shekhar Krishnamurti shaking his head and I completely understand what he must be thinking.
29:16I'm sure he's been on enough discussions like these.
29:18That's all the time I have for, but there are a few points that we can take away from this.
29:23That simpler protocol to take licenses, measures without bribe as a way for the intermediators.
29:30And importantly, when our firefighters, brave ones, land at the job for rescue operations,
29:35they need to have better equipment so that the emergency rescue is in a better, faster shape.
29:40So at least they don't waste time.
29:42But the bigger question, of course, remains, why should such a building exist in the first place?
29:47What about the departments and their officials?
29:50Questions remain and again, answers that are waiting to clear the air about how we can ensure this does not
29:58happen again.
29:59My prayers, my sympathies with the family members left behind, as Shekhar Krishnamurti says,
30:04with closure, that's never coming to them.
30:07I hope I don't have to report on another incident like this, but if we have to, we'll ask stringent
30:12questions on that too.
30:13I appreciate all the gentlemen to be with us on this panel.
30:16But the Lucknow Fire has raised troubling questions about safety in India's other institutes, centers, buildings.
30:23When 15 lives are lost, how can we ensure that it can be prevented in other crowded areas?
30:28Now, one crowded area in Delhi is Rajinder Nagar.
30:32Remember the coaching center disaster that happened two years ago?
30:35India Today's special investigation found safety concerns are persisting in several areas in Delhi,
30:41especially where there are coaching centers.
30:44This is our special investigation report.
31:11The flames of the inferno at Lucknow's Aliganj area coaching center,
31:15India continue to gnaw at India's conscience.
31:18But the tragedy that consumed 15 lives isn't the first time India students have had to pay the price of
31:23their lives for daring to follow the dream.
31:30Barely two years ago, we all watched in horror,
31:33as three UPSC aspirants drowned in the basement of Rao's IAS study circle in Delhi's old Rajinder Nagar.
31:41The recipe for disaster was common in both cases.
31:44Ignored safety norms, improper entry and exit routes,
31:47and most critically, a biometric entry system that stopped operating, trapping the students.
31:53But what lessons really learned from 2024?
31:57An investigation by India Today's special investigation team has revealed that in the education hub of Yamuna,
32:02in North East Delhi, coaching centers still operate in violation of the regulations.
32:08At the Future World Technical Institute,
32:11a basement room measuring barely 10 feet by 10 feet has been converted into a library,
32:16where around 25 study cubicles have been created.
32:20What's even more surprising is that the entry to this library is through a biometric system,
32:25the same kind whose failure had come under scrutiny during the Rajinder Nagar tragedy in Delhi,
32:29and the Aliganj Inferno in Lucknow.
32:34It's not a good thing, it's actually there.
32:37It's here to take a photo of the camera.
32:40You can see the camera.
32:47It's the camera.
32:51It's the camera.
32:56It's the camera.
32:58It's the camera.
32:59It's the camera.
33:00It's the camera.
33:01It's the camera.
33:03It's the camera.
33:08It's the camera.
33:09It's the camera.
33:10It's the camera.
33:14It's the camera.
33:15It's the camera.
33:16It's the camera.
33:19In this very basement, an SSC Coaching Centre is also operating.
33:23The basement has been divided into three sections and rented out.
33:27That's a good job.
33:28I think the building is here.
33:30I'm doing my own work.
33:33How do I have managed to do it?
33:37I usually work for a few projects.
33:38I all do things in a building.
33:40You don't have to be a coach.
33:43I am not coaching.
33:43I am not coaching.
33:43He is coaching.
33:44I am not coaching.
33:47Just a few steps away is the coaching institute called Horizon Academy.
33:51This institute prepares students for NEET and IET entrance examinations.
33:55Its classes are conducted either on the top floor or in the basement.
33:59The centre in charge shows us the classrooms with CCTV footage.
34:02He first showed us the top floor classrooms, which were so densely arranged that they resembled a maze.
34:08One classroom built inside another.
34:11Then he showed us the basement, where two classrooms were operating.
34:20The basement shows us the basement and the basement, which are coming from.
34:27The basement is the basement and the basement is the basement.
34:46Whether it be after Delhi's Rajendra Nagar or after Laknav's Ali Gunj,
34:50authorities claim that strict action would be taken against those
34:53who take the lives of our students for granted
34:55only to wake up after the next tragedy occurs
34:59With Nitin Jain in New Delhi
35:01and India Today's special investigation report
35:10Hone Court has remanded the accused CR Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary
35:14to seven days of police custody
35:16According to preliminary investigation
35:18four days after the funeral
35:20CR Goyal visited the victim's house
35:22During this visit the victim's sister questioned her
35:26and she noticed a suspicion
35:28with the statements and the response that came in from the girl
35:32Based on this the police received information
35:34that led to further questioning
35:3618th June
35:37Chetan Chaudhary's internet remained switched off
35:40from 7am to 5.40pm
35:43about 12 hours
35:44which further increased the suspicion of the cops
35:47Police found that Chetan had allegedly left his own home
35:50phone at his shop while he decided to go to Lohagar
35:54because to avoid location tracking
35:56Reportedly took his employee's phone with him
35:58travelled to Lohagar
36:00the fort from where the young Ketan Agarwal was allegedly pushed to his death
36:05Omkar Bable is joining me for the latest
36:07He's been tracking all the latest on that
36:09Omkar tell me how the investigators are going to look at this case
36:13How are they going to ensure that truth comes to light
36:16Because it was initially passed off as accident
36:19So then what came as a question or suspicion
36:22that there could have been murder here
36:28Well exactly
36:29It was reported as an accident and death
36:32which later on turned into a complete murder conspiracy
36:36But the important thing is
36:37now investigation reveals that
36:40Sia
36:43Goyal
36:43went to Lohagar 4th for the first time on 31st of May
36:47On 31st of May for Reki
36:49Then again she took her fiance Ketan Agarwal with her on 14th of June
36:59She wanted to click some pictures and she told him that
37:02Let's go ahead with a pre-wedding shoot
37:04That time she tried but it was a failed attempt
37:08She couldn't push him out of the cliff from the Lohagar
37:11But later on she took help of her boyfriend
37:19Chetan Chaudhari
37:20And then both executed this conspiracy and it led to the murder
37:24So investigation is still underway
37:26Now both are remanded
37:29Chaudhari, Chetan Chaudhari and Ria Goyal both are remanded
37:32for the next 7 days
37:34But the important thing is
37:36Both have confessed, they've accepted the crime
37:38They're telling police how they executed everything
37:41Because police were trying to find out the location of Chetan Chaudhari
37:45This is shocking beyond words
37:46Because in Raja Raghavanchi's Sonam case
37:48They were married for a few days
37:50Even in the case where that woman who killed her husband
37:53And it's called as the blue drum case now
37:56That also was marriage into years
37:59In this case the wedding didn't even happen
38:02So many are wondering why didn't she just say no?
38:05What happened here?
38:06What is the age group of the accused and the victim?
38:13The accused is just 20 years old
38:16Wow
38:18Her fiancƩ
38:19Her fiancƩ is 25 years old who is no more now
38:22But the interesting thing is investigation reveals that
38:26They met in last Diwali
38:28In the Diwali party
38:30Then they both started dating
38:31And both were feeling that
38:33Ketan Agrawal has become obstacle in her relationship
38:36And that is how they both planned everything
38:38It led to a conspiracy murder
38:41So initially both were in relationship
38:44But Ketan wanted to
38:46Anyhow Ketan wanted to marry her
38:48That's what she has written in her statement to the police
38:50But court has already said
38:53The 7 days of custody will be given
38:56Because senior superintendent of police has spoken up on this case
39:00Let's listen into what he is saying
39:07This girl is Siyah Goyal
39:10She is a friend of Chetan Chaudhary
39:14She is a friend of the family
39:18She is a shop in the market
39:19She was in a shop
39:21She was aware of some 1 year old
39:24So they both planned it
39:28And after planning it
39:29Then she was allowed to prevent the incident
39:31And its point is
39:33They then
39:35Hedged down her
39:37And lost the incident
39:39At this case
39:42The law firm
39:43The police station
39:45The police station
39:461-7
39:472-7
39:492-7
39:49Colum
39:501-3
39:50BNS
39:51And
39:5261
39:531-8
39:54You got to
39:55Milders
39:55Caught
39:56And
39:57We are also
39:57Causes
40:01I want to now take you through what the investigators are saying,
40:04what we are hearing from the Pune police sources.
40:06What happened in this case?
40:08Initially, it was passed off as accident.
40:10Investigators felt off, realized it was murder.
40:13Now, this young woman, barely 20 years of age,
40:16Sia Goyal wanted to call off her wedding,
40:19which was barely a few weeks from today,
40:21and with Ketan Agarwal.
40:23Now, for some reason, she couldn't call off the wedding.
40:26We don't know if it was family pressure or some other reason.
40:29But then she decided, what's the way out?
40:31She conspires with her alleged partner, boyfriend, we are told, Chetan Chaudhary.
40:36They lured Ketan to Lohagarh Fort for a trek.
40:41Let's go out for a trek, is what was suggested to them.
40:44Police say there was an earlier murder bid against him
40:47that for some reason had failed.
40:48This was a second attempt.
40:50A trek was planned to execute the plot.
40:52Sia then called her alleged partner, Chetan Chaudhary,
40:56to Lohagarh for the execution of the plot.
40:58This is where Ketan Agarwal, a young man of 25 years of age,
41:03looking forward to a married life with this young woman,
41:06is pushed off the fort, according to investigators,
41:09according to what the police are saying.
41:11This was made to look like an accident.
41:14But when her statement started to feel off by the family members, by the cops,
41:18it then was mentioned as a murder.
41:22It's a reminder here of cases that are emerging and a question clearly
41:26to the ones who are looking forward to a married life.
41:30It's always better to say no, show some courage,
41:34than take such dangerous steps,
41:37because eventually, truth has a way of coming out.
41:39On that note, I want to wrap up this bulletin.
41:42Thank you very much for watching.
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