Lucknow: Shivam Kumar, a resident of a private hostel in Aliganj, is now scrambling to find new accommodation after the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) sealed his hostel because the building lacked fire safety norms. He was paying Rs 10,000 in monthly rent and made a Rs 4,500 security deposit. The hostel authorities have refused to pay back the security money.“I chose this place because it was affordable and close to my coaching and the university, now I am being forced to leave without any backup,” said Shivam.Like Shivam, more than 100 students in the city have been left stranded after about 20 private hostels were sealed for violation of building norms and absence of fire safety.Another student, Aman Yadav, who stayed in a hostel, said that he was already managing tight budgets and the sudden eviction made it difficult to find even a basic room in the same area. He has no option right now but to leave for his hometown in Hardoi.“With exams approaching, I planned my entire study schedule, but now shifting rooms and travelling has completely disturbed my routine,” said Jeevesh Tomar, a hosteller in Aliganj.“My coaching classes start early in the morning, but after the eviction I am spending hours searching for accommodation, my preparation has taken a backseat. Even my coaching centre has been sealed in Hazratganj,” said Devesh Rai, another hosteller.Private hostel operators, on the other hand, claim that complying with fire safety regulations is not possible without major structural changes.“To comply with the fire safety norms, we would have to make major structural changes, such as adding extra staircases and fire exits, which is not possible in existing buildings,” said Ritesh Jaiswal, a hostel manager in Aliganj.Manager at a hostel in Aliganj, Rishi Deora, said that installing systems like hydrants, alarms and upgrading electrical setups requires heavy investment. Many small operators cannot afford this, so shutting down becomes the only option.Most of these hostels are old and will have to be demolished and rebuilt with the latest fire safety norms, which also require easy access for fire tenders all around the building, said another manager.According to the LDA, inspections revealed multiple violations across fire safety, electrical systems and emergency preparedness in hostels. The authority has issued a detailed checklist covering fire exits and staircases as per the national building code, clear escape routes, outward-opening doors and installation of smoke detectors, alarms, fire extinguishers on all floors, provision of emergency exit routes, proper electric wire fittings and instruments, and unhindered access for fire tenders to the buildings from all sides.
