M A I N   N E W S

17 years after Dabwali fire, scars refuse to go away
Unkept promises by successive governments have only added to victims’ anguish
Tribune News Service

Dabwali (Sirsa), December 23
Seventeen years after the Dabwali fire tragedy, the victims still carry the scars - of burns on their body and of apathy on their heart. Umpteen promises were made to the fire victims by successive governments but majority of them weren’t kept.

People pray for the victims of the fire tragedy at Dabwali on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

The biggest blaze in the country (in terms of casualties) had left 442 persons dead at Rajiv Marriage Palace here. Among the number of promises made to people was a 100-bed hospital with specialised facilities to treat those with burn injuries. The government, however, laid the foundation stone of a 30-bed hospital, which never came up. Currently, the town has a small community health centre. An assurance to start a burn treatment centre and a physiotherapy unit too proved hollow. Victims still have to go to Delhi or Ludhiana for their treatment.

“The government had backed out of its promise of free treatment to the injured. It was only after the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the victims are getting free treatment in 10 medical institutes (five in Delhi, one in Haryana and four in Punjab),” said Vinod Bansal, president of the Dabwali Fire Victims Association.

The plan to provide jobs to victims never took a concrete shape. The government had also promised a national-level memorial for the victims at the site of accident. Though a small memorial was constructed, there is no arrangement for its management.

The tragedy had struck at the annual function of the local DAV school. The victims allege that the management of the school has pocketed several crores sent in form of donations, but has offered nothing to the victims or their families.

Directed to contribute 55 per cent share of the compensation jointly with the owners of Rajiv Marriage Palace by the High Court, the school has moved the Supreme Court. The hearing in the case is coming up on January 8. The appointment of MP Bidlan as member of the Haryana Public Service Commission has also angered many victims. The then DC of Sirsa district, Bidlan, who was also the chief guest at the function where the tragedy occurred, had drawn the ire of locals due to his alleged act of cowardice.

The IAS officer had allegedly fled from the scene along with his security staff rather then performing his primary duty of starting a rescue operation.

The officer was indicted in probes and the state government had even recommended his removal from services in 2002. 

Fire victims remembered
Tribune News Service

Dabwali, December 23
A prayer was held in the memory of Dabwali fire victims on Sunday. Family members of the victims assembled near a memorial and paid tributes to the departed souls. The survivors alleged that political parties have done nothing for them except making hollow promises.

The victims have got 50 per cent of the compensation announced by the Punjab and Haryana High Court after 16 years of struggle. “The compensation for the dead - Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 5.25 lakh is too little,” they say. For the injured too, the relief is paltry.

The only silver lining is the dogged determination and resilience shown by victims, who were young children at the time of accident. Some of them have been even successful in giving shape to their career despite odds stacked against them.

Suman Kaushal (26), a girl with 100 per cent disability and 100 per cent disfigurement has completed her Bed. Bobby (19), who suffers disfigurement, is pursuing his BA.

Prabhjit and Bhavik, the two fire victims have made it to the IITs, while two others Navjeet and Sahil have also gone to leading engineering colleges. Sonia, another girl, who received burn injuries, is pursuing a CA course.