Fire @ Uphaar theater:Compensation reduced for victims' kins

New Delhi, Oct 13: The Supreme Court, while delivering its verdict on Thursday, Oct 13, reduced the compensation for the victims of the accident which occurred due to a massive fire at Uphaar theater in the national capital in 1997.

The apex court reduced compensation to the victims of the tragedy under various categories. For people above 20 years, compensation has been cut from Rs 18 to Rs 10 lakh.

Ansal Theater and Clubotels Ltd, which owned the Uphaar theater, would pay 85 percent of the compensation money.

The Delhi High Court had earlier found owners of the Uphaar cinema, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Vidyut Board (electricity Board) (DVB) and the licensing authority 'guilty of negligence', and awarded Rs 25 crore (Rs 250 million) civil compensation to the relatives of victims.

Challenging the High Court's verdict, Ansal moved the apex court which on Thursday reduced the amount of compensation which brought some relief or Ansal.

Almost 59 people were killed and at least 103 people were injured when the massive fire broke at the theater in Jun 1997.

OneIndia News