>The Srirangam marriage hall fire tragedy and the Kumbakonam school fire tragedy, which claimed 158 innocent lives together, occurred in a gap of six months in 2004.
Sixty four people attending a marriage at the Sri Padmapriya marriage mall in Srirangam on January 23, 2004, were killed and 33 sustained severe burns, in a fire, which reportedly broke out caused by short circuit and excessive heat generated by the video equipment.
In the Kumbakonam school fire tragedy of July 16, 2004, 94 children perished. Both the accidents were considered the worst fire accidents in the country, and raised questions over the safety norms followed in marriage halls and schools.
It was the presence of thatched roof in both the marriage hall >and the school noon meal centre that led to these ghastly tragedies.
>For the Srirangam tragedy, apart from the hall owner, five other s, including the videographer, his assistant, the man who put up the thatched roof and the electrician were arrested and prosecuted. No official of any government regulatory agency were cited as accused in the case.
In the verdict pronounced in the middle of June, 2012, the owner of the marriage hall and four others were convicted on charges of causing death by negligence and grievous hurt and sentenced to prison terms ranging from six months to two years on multiple counts by the Principal District and Sessions Court. The hall owner was directed to pay a compensation of Rs. 35.30 lakhs to the families of the dead and the injured.
The judge also held the State equally responsible for the tragedy and also directed the Corporation to inspect all marriage halls.
