Jaipur: Students studying in coaching institutes in Gopalpura in the city reported mixed levels of awareness about fire safety, with many saying they never participated in a mock evacuation drill despite studying in buildings housing hundreds of students.Ajay Gujar, a student, said that his institute had proper fire exits and classes have around 40 students each, but were not given any emergency training. “We know where the fire exits are and how to use fire extinguishers, but we have not been trained in detailed evacuation procedures,” he said.Another student, Vashu Sardhana, said safety instructions were displayed on notice boards, but no mock drills were conducted.NEET aspirant Vikram Kumar said his institute, where classes have around 100 students, gave a brief five-minute explanation on fire safety for the first time Tuesday. “Before this, we were never told what to do in case of a fire, and no mock drill has been held,” he said.Sumit Meena, a student, said that safety arrangements vary even within the same coaching chain. “My classroom has two exits, but a friend studying in another block does not have access to a fire exit,” he said.JEE aspirant Aayush Yogi said he was attending classes for two months but was unaware of any fire safety protocol. “I have not seen any instructions or information about fire exits,” he said.Students Pratush Kumar and Dinesh Kumar said they were familiar with safety signage and fire exits, but neither participated in a mock drill. “We know the exits, but there are no windows in our classroom,” Pratush said.The Sanyukt Abhibhavak Sangh, a body of aggrieved parents in the state, said that the highest concentration is found along the Gopalpura Bypass, but no proper scrutiny is done till a major accident takes place.“Fire safety remains a major concern at these coaching institutes, and inspections usually occur only after accidents. Even with annual NOC data available, authorities neither review nor update their records, enabling operators to ignore norms, and students are forced to study in such unsafe places,” spokesperson of the association Abhishek Jain Bittu said.
