Victims’ kin recall Uphaar horror

Bound together by a traumatic incident that took place on this day exactly 16 years ago, the 28 families who lost their loved ones in Delhi’s Uphaar cinema fire tragedy held a prayer meeting on Thursday and pledged to continue their fight for justice.

Bound together by a traumatic incident that took place on this day exactly 16 years ago, the 28 families who lost their loved ones in Delhi’s Uphaar cinema fire tragedy held a prayer meeting on Thursday and pledged to continue their fight for justice.

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Fifty-nine people were killed when the blaze broke out on June 13, 1997 during the screening of Hindi blockbuster movie Border.

The Association of Victims of the Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), which has been spearheading the legal battle, said families of the victims have waited too long for justice and the government must ensure that guilty are punished.

“Today is my birthday. I had given money to my son to go see the film that day. Nobody in the family, neither my wife nor my son wishes me now. Today, I only got a message from the bank wishing me. We used to celebrate my birthday every year,” said Amrit Sehgal who lost his 31-year-old son in the tragedy.

“My grandmother is over 65 years. She has to live alone. That is the plight of losing a young son,” said Surabhi Parashar who had lost her maternal uncle in the fire.