Web series on Uphaar fire in HC: A look at India’s worst tragedy

New Delhi: 59 people were burnt alive in their cinema hall showing a patriotic movie. They were convicted by the law of the land but got rid of any rigorous punishment allegedly due to money power. Now, they don’t want anyone to know the finer details of how things unfolded in this case.

This is the story of real estate tycoon Sushil Ansal, who was convicted in the 1997 Uphaar cinema fire case.

On Wednesday, the lawyers of powerful Ansals contended before the Delhi High Court that web series 'Trial by Fire', stated to be based on the incident and scheduled for release on Netflix on January 13, directly attacks his personality.

Ansal urged the court to grant an injunction against the release of the web series as even its teaser has got 1.5 million views in four days which shows the immediate impact it has.

The lawsuit by the 83-year-old Ansal also sought to restrain the circulation and publication of a book titled 'Trial by Fire- The tragic tale of the Uphaar Tragedy'.

While the High Court is yet to pronounce the order, here’s a look at the Uphaar fire tragedy:

On June 13, 1997, a devastating fire broke out at the Uphaar cinema in Delhi, India, during the screening of the Hindi film "Border." The tragedy resulted in the deaths of 59 people and injuries to over 100 others.

The Uphaar cinema was owned by the Ansal brothers, Gopal and Sushil Ansal, who were prominent real estate developers in India. The brothers were charged with several offences, including criminal negligence and violations of fire safety regulations.

According to prosecutors, the Ansals had made several unauthorized alterations to the cinema, including the conversion of an open terrace into an additional theatre, which reduced the number of emergency exits and hindered the evacuation of the building during the fire. Additionally, it was found that the emergency exits were locked and the fire-fighting equipment was not functional.

In 2007, the Delhi High Court convicted the Ansal brothers of negligence and sentenced them to two years in prison, but the sentence was later reduced to one year on appeal. They were also ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 30 crores (approximately $4 million). The victims of the Uphaar fire and their families criticized the sentence as being too lenient.

The Uphaar fire tragedy was one of the worst in India's history and resulted in significant changes in the country's fire safety laws. It also brought attention to the accountability of business owners for ensuring the safety of their customers. The negligence and callous attitude of the Ansals brothers served as a tragic reminder of the importance of proper safety regulations and adherence to them.

The incident also had a huge impact on Indian society and families who lost loved ones in the tragedy, it also had a far-reaching impact on the Indian cinema industry with many reforms being brought in the fire safety and emergency regulations.

The Uphaar fire tragedy will always be remembered as a tragic reminder of the need for vigilant safety measures and strict enforcement of regulations in public places.