New Delhi, June 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives in a devastating fire that broke out at a coaching centre in Lucknow and announced financial assistance for the families of the deceased and those injured in the incident.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said he was saddened by the fire tragedy in Uttar Pradesh's capital and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.

"Anguished by the loss of lives in a fire mishap in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. My condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. Rescue operations are underway and authorities are providing all possible assistance," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister also announced ex-gratia compensation from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF). The next of kin of each deceased victim will receive Rs 2 lakh, while those injured in the incident will be provided Rs 50,000.

The announcement came as rescue and relief operations continued in Lucknow's Aliganj area, where a coaching centre functioning from the upper floors of a commercial building caught fire, causing panic among students and nearby residents.

According to reports, several students were forced to jump from the building to escape as thick smoke rapidly engulfed the premises. Firefighters and emergency response teams rushed to the spot and launched an extensive rescue operation to evacuate those trapped inside.

Officials said multiple fire tenders, ambulances and medical teams were deployed to manage the emergency. Several injured persons were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government intensified rescue and relief measures following the incident. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the situation and directed officials to expedite rescue operations, ensure prompt medical care for the injured, and provide all necessary assistance to the affected families.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the fire.