Govts don’t learn lessons… nothing has changed: Neelam Krishnamoorthy, face of justice for Uphaar tragedy

On June 13, 1997, Krishnamoorthy lost her two teenage children in the cinema hall fire that killed 59 people. Krishnamoorthy spearheaded a long struggle for justice as president of the Association of Victims of the Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT).

“Hospitals are supposed to give you life, not death. Imagine the plight of the families that were waiting to welcome those children home,” Krishnamoorthy said, commenting on the Vivek Vihar hospital blaze that left six newborns dead.

Also referring to the Rajkot gaming zone fire, which claimed 28 lives a few hours before the Delhi incident, she said it was clear that “nothing had changed” when it came to preventing such “man-made disasters”, adding it was likely to remain this way till stricter laws were put in place as deterrents.

“Even 27 years later (since the Uphaar tragedy), things remain the same. I blame the Supreme Court for this. They had a golden opportunity to set up a precedent, set an example, through harsh punishment…this is murder. Crimes against children are treated as heinous world over. In Uphaar, there were 23…here (in Vivek Vihar) there were six,” she said.

“But the accused, (Gopal and Sushil) Ansals (in Uphaar case) were charged under 304A of the Indian Penal Code (causing death due to negligence). We had moved the court for 304, Part II. Years later, they were allowed to walk free by paying a fine,” she said.

Questioning the Delhi government, she said, “The Delhi government was rewarded for its failure (in the Uphaar judgment). They were given Rs 60 Crore (the fine amount) to set up a trauma centre in Dwarka (in 2017). But unfortunately, this centre has still not come up.”

Krishnamoorthy said a law specifically to deal with such “man-made disasters”, a dedicated special purpose vehicle as a nodal agency, and harsh punishment for “everyone involved” in the negligence must be brought by the government.

“…everyone found involved – from officials who have issued NOCs to the owners – should be booked. They are all in cahoots, one can’t function without the other,” she said.