Uphaar fire tragedy: 27 years on, victims’ kin say strict action needed against violators

Demanding strict action against those accused of flouting fire safety rules, Neelam Krishnamoorthy, president of the Association of The Victims of Uphaar Tragedy, said the government must bring in new legislation to deal with man-made disasters and set up Fast Track Special Courts to expedite such cases and ensure swift punishment.

Twenty-seven years ago, on June 13, 1997, 59 people, including 23 children, died when a fire broke out at Uphaar Cinema in Green Park. Krishnamoorthy’s two children were among the victims. “Ever since the Uphaar tragedy, virtually no efforts were made to enforce fire safety regulations in public spaces. As a result, people in India remain vulnerable and unsafe in public places, with the possibility of tragedies of the same magnitude looming large… In the two recent major tragedies — one in the TRP Gaming Zone, Rajkot and the other at Baby Care Hospital, Delhi — lives were lost because the owner/occupiers violated the rulebook with impunity,” she said.

Krishnamoorthy said the accused need to be booked under stringent sections to ensure accountability. “There is rampant violation of fire-safety measures in public spaces by owners and occupiers. Perpetrators of such heinous crimes are often booked under IPC Section 304 A (rash & negligent act) which is bailable. Thus, they are given leniency and the opportunity to avoid adequate punishment, despite having neglected safety rules,” she said.