Lucknow: Days after the Aliganj fire incident claimed the lives of 15 students and triggered a citywide crackdown, three key govt offices — the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) headquarters, the chief medical officer’s office and the Collectorate — were found lacking basic fire safety measures and evacuation preparedness.A TOI reality check found open electrical wiring, ageing infrastructure, poor cable management and obstructed escape routes across the three buildings. None had visible evacuation maps, assembly point information or directional emergency signage in the areas visited.A bigger concern observed in the buildings was the absence of advanced fire protection systems. There were no hydrant systems, smoke detection alarms or sprinkler systems visible in the sections inspected.All three offices, however, had fire extinguishers installed at various locations.At the century-old LMC headquarters in Lalbagh, open electrical panels, exposed wiring and hanging cables were seen across sections. Several power and communication lines ran without conduits, while external AC units were connected through open wiring.Staircase entrances had collapsible iron gates, and no alternative evacuation route was clearly visible in the sections visited. No exit signage or evacuation maps were found.At the CMO office, exposed electrical and communication cables were visible. Corridors were narrowed by closely placed steel almirahs.An alternative exit route was present but was narrower than the main entry and partially obstructed by storage units.The Collectorate had multiple exits and wider corridors. However, open electrical and communication cables, temporary networking equipment and extension boards were seen in corridors along with stored construction material.Fire extinguishers were installed at several locations, but no evacuation plans or emergency signage were visible in the sections inspected.“The three offices handle heavy public footfall, while inspections targeting commercial establishments are underway following the Aliganj fire,” said a senior fire safety consultant, requesting anonymity.When contacted, LMC officials declined to comment.Additional district magistrate Mahendra Pal Singh said the record room at the Collectorate is equipped with a high-sensitivity smoke detection (HSSD) system and additional smoke alarms. He said some construction material is currently lying in the lobby due to ongoing renovation work and will be removed soon. The exit signs had also been temporarily taken down during the renovation and will be reinstalled. Singh added that the electrical wiring undergoes an annual safety audit and has no joints, making the possibility of a fire caused by a short circuit negligible.CMO Dr N.B Singh said a fire safety audit of his office had already been conducted. Based on the audit findings, a list of the required fire safety upgrades had been sent to the govt. He said the necessary safety measures would be implemented once approval was received.
