Within minutes, classrooms turned into smoke-filled chambers and corridors into escape routes. A major fire at a coaching centre in Lucknow's Aliganj area on Monday triggered scenes of panic and a large-scale rescue effort, leaving at least 14 people dead and several others injured. PICS/PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi on Wednesday, offering prayers and performing darshan during his visit to the city. Pics/X and PTI