Key facts
- The Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) is advocating for a new law on negligence-driven disasters.
- AVUT's call comes 29 years after the Uphaar cinema fire, which killed 59 people.
- The association highlighted recent fires, like the Malviya Nagar hotel incident, as proof of ongoing safety failures.
- AVUT argues that current legal frameworks are insufficient to deter negligence and corruption leading to disasters.
- The proposed law would aim for swift investigations, special courts, and strict penalties for those responsible.
Twenty-nine years after the Uphaar cinema fire tragedy, the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) has intensified its demand for a special law to address man-made disasters caused by negligence and corruption. Marking the anniversary, AVUT pointed to recent incidents, such as the Malviya Nagar hotel fire that claimed 21 lives, as evidence that critical lessons from the 1997 tragedy remain unlearned.
AVUT stated that despite decades of advocacy for accountability and safer public spaces, preventable tragedies continue to occur due to regulatory failures, weak enforcement, and a lack of deterrent action against those responsible for safety violations. The association noted that fire incidents repeatedly expose systemic shortcomings, with safety norms being overlooked and statutory clearances allegedly issued without adequate scrutiny.