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Photos: 21 years since Uphaar fire, relatives still seek justice for victims

On June 13, 1997 during the screening of Bollywood movie ‘Border’ at Uphaar Cinema in south Delhi’s Green park, a major fire broke which claimed the lives of 59 people and injured over 100 others after suffocation caused by billowing smoke resulted in a stampede. Every year since, families of the victims have been rallying for justice and gather near the site in remembrance. 21 years on, a visit to the theatre with images past and present shows a view of the incident and its location, both stuck in time.

Updated on: Jun 14, 2018 12:15 PM IST

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It was June 13, 1997, the Bollywood blockbuster ‘Border’ was screening inside Uphaar Cinema in south Delhi’s Green Park when a fire broke out halfway through the movie. The fire claimed 59 lives and over 100 were injured due to suffocation in the ensuing stampede. Twenty one years since the tragedy, time has stood still inside the ill-fated cinema hall. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

Updated on Jun 14, 2018 12:15 PM

It was June 13, 1997, the Bollywood blockbuster ‘Border’ was screening inside Uphaar Cinema in south Delhi’s Green Park when a fire broke out halfway through the movie. The fire claimed 59 lives and over 100 were injured due to suffocation in the ensuing stampede. Twenty one years since the tragedy, time has stood still inside the ill-fated cinema hall. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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Damaged film rolls litter the floor inside Uphaar Cinema. Shoes, bottles, burnt seats, vehicles in the basement and debris all around. That’s the scene 21 years on, and an eerie silence that still rings of the incident from decades ago. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

Updated on Jun 14, 2018 12:15 PM

Damaged film rolls litter the floor inside Uphaar Cinema. Shoes, bottles, burnt seats, vehicles in the basement and debris all around. That’s the scene 21 years on, and an eerie silence that still rings of the incident from decades ago. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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A view of a space leading to the balcony of the cinema hall. Many among the dead were kids as young as four years old. Three weeks after the fire, 28 families came together to form the Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) to fight for justice. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

Updated on Jun 14, 2018 12:15 PM

A view of a space leading to the balcony of the cinema hall. Many among the dead were kids as young as four years old. Three weeks after the fire, 28 families came together to form the Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) to fight for justice. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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Like every year since, families of the victims of the tragedy assembled at Smriti Upavan in Green Park to pay homage to the lives lost in the blaze. Photographs of the victims lined the walls as family members still seeking justice grieved their loss. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

Updated on Jun 14, 2018 12:15 PM

Like every year since, families of the victims of the tragedy assembled at Smriti Upavan in Green Park to pay homage to the lives lost in the blaze. Photographs of the victims lined the walls as family members still seeking justice grieved their loss. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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On the morning of June 13 one of the two transformers on the ground floor caught fire. Hearing an explosion security rushed to the spot. Fire tenders were summoned and the blaze was brought under control. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

Updated on Jun 14, 2018 12:15 PM

On the morning of June 13 one of the two transformers on the ground floor caught fire. Hearing an explosion security rushed to the spot. Fire tenders were summoned and the blaze was brought under control. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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It is alleged that repair works carried out earlier in the morning were unsatisfactory and left loose connections. In the evening around 5pm another fire broke out. Since the transformer did not have an oil soak pit as required under regulation, the blaze this time spread, billowing smoke into to the screening hall through a door and air conditioning ducts. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

Updated on Jun 14, 2018 12:15 PM

It is alleged that repair works carried out earlier in the morning were unsatisfactory and left loose connections. In the evening around 5pm another fire broke out. Since the transformer did not have an oil soak pit as required under regulation, the blaze this time spread, billowing smoke into to the screening hall through a door and air conditioning ducts. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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Fire tenders attempt to douse the fire and carry out rescue operations. Many family members of the victims believe that they have been cheated and justice eluded. Among them is Neelam Krishnamoorthy who lost both her children in the fire and has been since fighting for justice in a case she feels she has been let down by the judiciary. (PTI File)

Updated on Jun 14, 2018 12:15 PM

Fire tenders attempt to douse the fire and carry out rescue operations. Many family members of the victims believe that they have been cheated and justice eluded. Among them is Neelam Krishnamoorthy who lost both her children in the fire and has been since fighting for justice in a case she feels she has been let down by the judiciary. (PTI File)

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The fire exposed poor safety standards at public spaces. In fact it was not the first instance when a fire had broken out at Uphaar Cinema. A faulty sub-station had led to a fire earlier in July 1989. In 1983, following a fire at a high rise building at Rajendra place, licenses of 12 cinemas, including that of Uphaar, had been cancelled. (Arun Jetlie / HT Archive)

Updated on Jun 14, 2018 12:15 PM

The fire exposed poor safety standards at public spaces. In fact it was not the first instance when a fire had broken out at Uphaar Cinema. A faulty sub-station had led to a fire earlier in July 1989. In 1983, following a fire at a high rise building at Rajendra place, licenses of 12 cinemas, including that of Uphaar, had been cancelled. (Arun Jetlie / HT Archive)

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Burnt and damaged cars are seen in the basement of the cinema hall on June 13,1997. Investigations carried out by several organisations including CBI revealed negligence on part of the proprietor in following basic fire safety measures. Further investigations revealed that one of the fire exits was blocked to accommodate extra seats trapping people inside. (Prakash Singh / HT Archive)

Updated on Jun 14, 2018 12:15 PM

Burnt and damaged cars are seen in the basement of the cinema hall on June 13,1997. Investigations carried out by several organisations including CBI revealed negligence on part of the proprietor in following basic fire safety measures. Further investigations revealed that one of the fire exits was blocked to accommodate extra seats trapping people inside. (Prakash Singh / HT Archive)

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Nearly a month after the incident, theatre owner Sushil Ansal and his son Pranav were arrested in Mumbai by the Delhi police’s crime branch. On November 15, 1997, CBI filed a chargesheet against the 16 accused, including the owners. While Sushil spent five months in jail his brother Gopal, was behind bars for four months immediately after the June 13, 1997 tragedy. (Prakash Singh / HT Archive)

Updated on Jun 14, 2018 12:15 PM

Nearly a month after the incident, theatre owner Sushil Ansal and his son Pranav were arrested in Mumbai by the Delhi police’s crime branch. On November 15, 1997, CBI filed a chargesheet against the 16 accused, including the owners. While Sushil spent five months in jail his brother Gopal, was behind bars for four months immediately after the June 13, 1997 tragedy. (Prakash Singh / HT Archive)

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Policemen and fire tenders carry out rescue operations after the fire. In 2017, reviewing its 2015 judgment that saw the brothers being let off with a fine of Rs 30 crore each, the Supreme Court ordered one year in jail for Gopal Ansal while Sushil was allowed to stay out of jail because of his age. (Prakash Singh / HT Archive)

Updated on Jun 14, 2018 12:15 PM

Policemen and fire tenders carry out rescue operations after the fire. In 2017, reviewing its 2015 judgment that saw the brothers being let off with a fine of Rs 30 crore each, the Supreme Court ordered one year in jail for Gopal Ansal while Sushil was allowed to stay out of jail because of his age. (Prakash Singh / HT Archive)

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Managers of the Uphaar Cinema who were arrested for criminal negligence seen produced at Patiala House court on June 14, 1997. In its review plea, AVUT said the judgment bestowed an unwarranted leniency on convicts whose conviction in the most heinous of offences has been upheld by all courts and sentences imposed have been substituted with fine without assigning any reason. (PTI File)

Updated on Jun 14, 2018 12:15 PM

Managers of the Uphaar Cinema who were arrested for criminal negligence seen produced at Patiala House court on June 14, 1997. In its review plea, AVUT said the judgment bestowed an unwarranted leniency on convicts whose conviction in the most heinous of offences has been upheld by all courts and sentences imposed have been substituted with fine without assigning any reason. (PTI File)

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