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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Uphaar Cinema fire tragedy: 28 years on, families demand justice
'We have a parallel criminal justice, one for the rich and powerful and one for the poor,' remarked Neelam Krishnamoorthy, the face of the campaign seeking justice for the victims of the 1997 Uphaar Cinema fire tragedy, in a prayer meeting held Friday at Smriti Upvan. This year marks the 28th anniversary of the fire accident that broke out on June 13, 1997, claiming 59 lives due to asphyxiation and leaving hundreds injured in the ensuing stampede. Families of the 59 people who died meet annually to remember their loved ones. Neelam and her husband, Shekhar Krishnamoorthy, lost their children — 17-year-old Unnati and 13-year-old Ujjwal — in the blaze. 'I have kept these pictures for 28 years, the irony is many family members have died since,' Neelam said while she took down photos of the deceased pinned on a soft board post the ceremony. As president of the Association of Victims of the Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), she and her husband have led a long struggle for justice. 'The courts are testing my patience too, but I've not given up because I have promised my children that we will get justice for them,' she added. Commenting on the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives yesterday, she said, 'A whistleblower had already raised that there were problems with Boeing, but nobody listened. Similarly, the cinema also ran for years despite violations of norms. When greed overtakes a company, it's ordinary people who are availing the services.' Questioning a city court's decision to reduce the jail term of the accused brothers and owners of the cinema hall, Gopal and Sushil, Neelam said, 'The judge said that the accused also suffered, but how can they compare it with the pain of a mother who lost both of her children? Had it been an ordinary citizen, he would've been languishing behind bars.' In July 2022, a Delhi court granted relief to the brothers, ordering their release from jail by asking them to serve only the sentence already undergone, in a case of tampering with evidence in the case. The court observed that a trial court had earlier passed a sentence that was 'punitive and retributive in nature' to teach them a lesson. In 2015, the Supreme Court imposed a Rs 60-crore fine on the accused brothers in lieu of a custodial sentence. The amount was deposited with the Delhi government and was earmarked for building a second trauma centre, in memory of the victims, as an extension of AIIMS in Dwarka. However, this project has remained stalled. 'They (the Supreme Court) actually awarded the government for its failure. They were given Rs 60 crores to build a second trauma centre, but there's no sign of it so far,' she said. Neelam has since approached the apex court enquiring about the trauma centre. Amidst calls for justice, the Uphaar cinema in Green Park stands bearing the marks of the blazing tragedy, with a warning sign that reads 'stay away.'
The Print
2 days ago
- The Print
Uphaar fire tragedy: 28 years on, families still miss loved ones, demand accountability
There were prayers, moments of silence, emotional recollections, and a renewed appeal for justice and accountability, AVUT, in a statement, said. The memorial, organised by the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), saw grieving families, friends, and supporters streaming to the south Delhi area to remember their loved ones. New Delhi, Jun 13 (PTI) The Uphaar cinema fire tragedy victims' kin gathered at Smriti Upavan in Green Park on Friday to mark 28 years of the horrific incident that claimed 59 lives and injured more than 100. 'It has been 28 years, and we are still waiting for answers, for closure, for justice that feels complete,' said Neelam Krishnamoorthy, president of AVUT, who lost her two teenage children in the fire. 'Every year we come here not just to mourn, but to remind the system that such a tragedy must never happen again,' she said. In 1997, a fire broke out during a screening of the film Border at the Uphaar cinema hall. Locked exits and a delayed rescue led to dozens of people getting trapped inside, many of them young. AVUT has since fought a legal battle to hold those responsible to account. The fight revealed major gaps in the cinema halls' safety apparatus, such as the lack of emergency preparedness and a trauma centre in Delhi. The setting up of Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre, which has been functioning for 18 years, is a result of that legal battle. The Supreme Court in 2015 imposed a Rs 60 crore fine on the Ansal brothers, the owners of the theatre, instead of a jail term. The amount was meant to fund another trauma centre, an extension of AIIMS in Dwarka, but that project is still pending, according to the statement. 'It is heartbreaking to see something so critical stuck in limbo. Lives depend on it,' Krishnamoorthy said. As they lit candles and laid flowers, families said they would keep returning to this place until the system changes, and until public safety becomes more than just a promise. PTI SHB VN VN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Uphaar fire tragedy: 28 years on, families still miss loved ones, demand accountability
New Delhi, The Uphaar cinema fire tragedy victims' kin gathered at Smriti Upavan in Green Park on Friday to mark 28 years of the horrific incident that claimed 59 lives and injured more than 100. The memorial, organised by the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy , saw grieving families, friends, and supporters streaming to the south Delhi area to remember their loved ones. There were prayers, moments of silence, emotional recollections, and a renewed appeal for justice and accountability, AVUT, in a statement, said. "It has been 28 years, and we are still waiting for answers, for closure, for justice that feels complete," said Neelam Krishnamoorthy, president of AVUT, who lost her two teenage children in the fire. "Every year we come here not just to mourn, but to remind the system that such a tragedy must never happen again," she said. In 1997, a fire broke out during a screening of the film Border at the Uphaar cinema hall. Locked exits and a delayed rescue led to dozens of people getting trapped inside, many of them young. AVUT has since fought a legal battle to hold those responsible to account. The fight revealed major gaps in the cinema halls' safety apparatus, such as the lack of emergency preparedness and a trauma centre in Delhi. The setting up of Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre, which has been functioning for 18 years, is a result of that legal battle. The Supreme Court in 2015 imposed a ₹60 crore fine on the Ansal brothers, the owners of the theatre, instead of a jail term. The amount was meant to fund another trauma centre, an extension of AIIMS in Dwarka, but that project is still pending, according to the statement. "It is heartbreaking to see something so critical stuck in limbo. Lives depend on it," Krishnamoorthy said. As they lit candles and laid flowers, families said they would keep returning to this place until the system changes, and until public safety becomes more than just a promise.
India Gazette
2 days ago
- India Gazette
28 years of Uphaar cinema tragedy: Families remember victims, demand action
New Delhi [India], June 13 (ANI): On the 28th anniversary of the Uphaar Cinema fire, grieving families and the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) gathered at Smriti Upavan, the memorial site in Green Park Extension, to honor the 59 lives lost on June 13, 1997. This year, the anniversary once again falls on Friday the 13th, mirroring the tragic day when a fire during a film screening turned into one of Delhi's worst man-made disasters. The commemoration was marked by prayers, heartfelt tributes, and renewed calls for justice and accountability. 'For 28 years, we have carried the grief of our loved ones and the burden of a system that continues to fail its citizens,' said Neelam Krishnamoorthy, President of AVUT. She added, 'This is not just a day of mourning--it is a protest against institutional negligence and the apathy that allowed this tragedy to happen.' The Uphaar fire remains a stark reminder of fire safety lapses, regulatory failures, and administrative indifference. Even decades later, the battle for justice continues. Following the tragedy, AVUT filed a civil writ petition in the Delhi High Court demanding trauma care facilities for the city. This led to the establishment of the Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre, which has served the public for 18 years. In a criminal appeal, the Supreme Court in 2015 imposed a Rs 60 crore fine on the Ansal brothers--owners of Uphaar Cinema--in lieu of a custodial sentence. The funds were allocated to build a second trauma centre at AIIMS Dwarka, but the project remains stalled. 'Nearly a decade after the Supreme Court's directive, the Dwarka trauma centre has yet to be built. This is a betrayal--not just to the Uphaar families, but to every citizen relying on timely emergency care,' Krishnamoorthy stated. AVUT continues its legal efforts, urging swift government action to complete the facility. As the nation reflects on this painful chapter, AVUT calls on authorities and civil society to prioritize public safety, strengthen fire regulations, and uphold the sanctity of human life. The Uphaar tragedy must never be allowed to repeat. (ANI)
