Families of those who lost their lives in the Carlton Towers tragedy are still waiting for justice, as are those who were injured as the legal system has still not got round to punishing those responsible for the fire. Those who survived have not received the promised compensation either from the state government.
“I lost my young son in the fire. The only justice I can think of is for those who were responsible paying for it in some form. The judicial process is drawn out, so I am still waiting for justice. The anger will die but it hurts to see that our legal system lets people who should be held accountable out on bail,” says Uday Vijayan, whose son Akhil Uday died in the fire.
Mr Vijayan has since co-founded Beyond Carlton to help create awareness about fire safety in the city so that no other parent should have to undergo what he has. “I found a way to channel my grief into something positive. I lost my son, but nobody else should. I will get some solace if more awareness is created about fire safety but a fire mishap every third day in the country is not a good sign,” he adds.
One of the lucky ones who survived the fire with injuries, Nitin Dubey, says while the judicial process is prolonged, their efforts have paid off to a degree as the high court has now directed the fire department to issue a notification on fire safety in high rise buildings. “But enforcement is still a concern. There should be provision for more severe punishment in law for those responsible for fire accidents so that it can act as a deterrent,” he feels, also angry that the over 50 injured (18 of them critically), who were promised compensation of Rs 50,000 each by the then CM B.S Yeddyruppa, have not got a whiff of it as yet.
“Soon after the incident, Mr Yeddyurappa announced that the government would pay a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased, Rs 50,000 to each of the injured, and also clear their hospital bills. But it was only after much pleading and meeting the CM personally that compensation was paid to families of the nine who died nearly a year later. The injured are still waiting,” Mr Dubey deplores.
