LUCKNOW, Feb. 11 -- Lack of basic fire safety mechanism in Lucknow's various coaching centres has put the lives of thousands of students preparing there for entrance exams like JEE, NEET and CLAT at risk, according to a recent audit by the fire department.

As many of these coaching centres ignored multiple warnings, Lucknow's chief fire officer (CFO) Mangesh Kumar has written to the regional higher education officer/ district inspector of schools, seeking cancellation of licence of 17 such institutes.

A list in possession of HT shared by Lucknow fire department has some big coaching centres being run in posh localities like Halwasiya court and Naval Kishore Marg in Hazratganj, Kapoorthala, Purania in Aliganj, and at Ashiana, Alambagh an...