The municipal corporation on Friday issued notices to eight cinemas in Chandigarh for violating fire safety norms. The inspection was carried at sectors 34, 17, 37, 22, besides Manimajra, and the industrial area.
MC joint commissioner Varinder Chaudhary said the inspection was carried out to prevent an Uphaar-like tragedy. The 1997 Uphaar Cinema fire, one of the worst fire tragedies in recent Indian history, left 59 dead and 103 were seriously injured.
Most of the people at Uphaar had died due to suffocation after the fire, while others were injured in stampede.
Chaudhary said the authorities had received complaints that cinema halls in the city were not ready to prevent or deal with a tragedy.
“We have given the violators a month’s time to rectify the shortcomings, failing which action will be taken,” Chaudhary said.
The official said the authorities had also ordered colour coding of the cinemas, which will enable movie-goers to check if the theatres are equipped to tackle fires.
Under the coding system, labels of different colours will grade the cinemas on being fully or partially competent to prevent fires, and also mark those that are not safe at all.
{{/usCountry}}Under the coding system, labels of different colours will grade the cinemas on being fully or partially competent to prevent fires, and also mark those that are not safe at all.
{{/usCountry}}Chaudhary said similar inspections will also be carried out in city schools, college and other institutions to check their fire preparedness.