Don’t repeat Uphaar: Delhi

In fact, the government already has started seeking details from various departments. The Director General of Police (DGP) has been asked to submit a report on the steps taken to improve safety preparedness in city theatres after the blaze at Uphaar cinema.

A blast in the ground-floor of the cinema hall during a first-day matinee show of Hindi film Border had led to the tragedy. The report has to be submitted to the Government of India immediately as the matter is coming up in the Parliament next week.

Speaking to Express Newsline, the deputy commissioner of police (headquarters) V R Kamble said the police have been regularly inspecting cinema halls. These checks will now be made more stringent, he said.

A senior police officer hinted that lighting arrangements in the halls, exit doors, fire extinguishers, ventilation, size of the staircases and the condition of transformers may come in for tight scrutiny before a no-objection certificate is issued to cinema halls in the future.

The Cinema Exhibitors’ Association president, Pranlal Joshi, confirmed to this newspaper that the frequency of safety inspections has already increased. There are about 125 cinema halls spread across the city.

However, a number of theatres have closed down in recent years following the cable invasion. At least 10 cinema halls in the suburbs have been converted into shopping centres.