The families of eight people who lost their lives in the fire that gutted Kinara Hotel in Kurla in 2015 have decided to approach the High Court to challenge the State government’s decision to had them just a compensation of ₹one lakh.
The fire, which broke out in the hotel on October 16, 2015, charred eight customers, including seven undergraduate students and an office goer. The Vinoba Bhave Nagar police had filed a charge sheet against the owner and the manager of the restaurant, charging them with negligent conduct and culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The families with the help of the NGO Watchdog Foundation approached the Lokayukta in August last year, seeking a fresh probe and compensation, which they had not received even after nine months since the incident.
Godfrey Pimenta of the Watchdog Foundation said, “The matter of compensation came up during a hearing before the Lokayukta on January 24 this year, when BMC officials informed the Lokayukta that a sum of ₹8 lakh had been released as compensation to the families. They were shocked to learn about the meagre compensation which they later accepted. We will soon be moving the High Court against the State government and its agencies for its lethargic and tardy investigation, and absolutely no respect for human life and dignity.”
Cause still a mystery
Mr. Pimenta said the foundation submitted to the police a list of civic officials who had shown negligence in the matter, but no action had been taken against them. “According to the Public Insurance Liability Act, each family should get up to ₹40 lakh instead of just ₹1 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.” The fire brigade in its report said the fire was caused due to a gas leak, but the Hindustan Petroleum Corporate Limited claimed it might be due to a short circuit.
