Question : UPHAAR FIRE INCIDENT

(a) whether any Committee had been set up to look into the incident of fire in `Uphaar` Cinema Hall;

(b) if so, the names of the members of the said Committee and the findings of the inquiry so far;

(c) whether the persons responsible for the incident of fire have been identified;

(d) if so, the action taken/being taken against the guilty persons;

(e) the steps taken to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future;

(f) whether any compensation has been provided to the dependents of those killed in the incident;
(g) if so, the details thereof; and
(h) if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS ( CH. VIDYASAGAR RAO )

(a)&(b): The then Deputy Commissioner (South) of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi was appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to inquire into the cause(s) and circumstances leading to the fire, if any, on the part of the agencies involved and suggest measures to prevent such incidents in future. The report submitted by the Deputy Commissioner (South) concluded that all the agencies concerned, namely, Delhi Vidyut Board, Licensing Branch of Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Services and Municipal Corporation of Delhi including the Management of Uphaar Theatre had to share the blame for their acts of omission and commission which contributed to the tragedy.

(c)&(d): The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed charge sheets against 16 accused persons including 8 public servants and the matter is sub-judice.

(e): The joint inspection of all the cinema halls in Delhi is regularly conducted by a team of the officials of the agencies concerned to check if there are any violations/deficiencies in cinema halls.

(f)to(h): An ex-gratia payment of Rs.1 lakh was made to the next of the kin of each of those who lost their lives in the incident excepting in two cases.