A/C Sparks Deadly Fire at Indian Fair
By Rachelle Crum -- Tradeshow Week, 4/24/2006
Show organizers went on the run after an April 10 fire that killed dozens and injured hundreds at the Brands India Consumer Show in the Northern Indian city of Meerut.
Arun Agarwal, president of buying house S2 Resources, said the organizers and their families fled the scene of destruction. He identified them as Lakhan Tomar, Siddarth Kochar and Ashit Gupta, owners of Mrinal Events & Expositions.
The trio had produced one other trade fair, said Agarwal, whose business operates in Dallas and Noida, India. As of press time, local reports indicated that the organizers had filed a plea to surrender in the court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate.
The show in the ancient city 40 miles from New Delhi attracted about 4,000 people to displays of electronics, jewelry and clothing, Agarwal said. It was located under tents (a common practice for Indian shows) within the Victoria Park exhibition grounds.
The fire started because of a short circuit in an air-conditioning unit, Agarwal said. The government of the Indian state Uttar Pradesh stated that the fire killed 30 people and injured 141. However, according to news reports, approximately 50 people died and around 300 were injured.
Less than 24 hours before the show, Mrinal obtained a no-objections certificate from the local magistrate's office, but apparently did not receive approval from the area fire department, which would have disapproved of the single entryway into the tents, Agarwal said.
"How could they let it happen like this?" said Agarwal. "I guess someone found out a way to do it. They (the Mrinal owners) were very well connected."
Mulayam Singh Yadav, the state chief minister, said there will be a judicial inquiry into the incident. He directed the district administration to ensure that the incident wouldn't be repeated, and said that all necessary steps should be taken before events are approved.
