Incident of Fire in DVB Transformer on 13.6.1997

1. There are two  Transformers installed in  the Uphaar  Cinema Premises.   One  Transformer is  of 500 KVA which belongs to  Uphaar  Cinema and feeds the  cinema only.    The other transformer is of  1000 KVA which belongs to  DVB  and feeds the surrounding Green Park locality.   It is significant to point out that this DVB Transformer did  not cater the need of Uphaar Cinema.   The DVB’s Substation with Transformer of 1000 KVA installed therein is in  full control, management, maintenance and lock and key of DVB  Officials and the management of  Uphaar Cinema is not at all connected with the same.
2. In  the year 1972 when the Company applied for electricity connection for Uphaar Cinema, it was  compelled by  the  then DESU  Authorities to  provide space for  installation  of a Sub-Stn. to cater the  electricity  requirement of surrounding Green Park and it was only when the  space was provided by  the Uphaar owning Company for  such installation,  the  electricity load was sanctioned for the  cinema.
3. In  the morning of 13.6.1997 there was some sparking in  the DVB Transformer which  was reported to  the Authorities by  the Security  Guard of Cinema.   The complaint of morning sparking was attended around 11.30 a.m. when  the  repair was done  and thereafter the DVB Transformer  was put on load.  From 3.55 p.m. to 4.55 p.m. there was a load shedding in the area.  It is noteworthy that it was the  month of  June and the electricity load  / consumption during the  afternoon was maximum.   After the load shedding when  the electricity in the  area was  restored, the sparking again  took place in the  Transformer may  be due to overloading or some other line fault in the area.  Since, there was no  protection system provided in the Transformer as such the  sparking took place which ultimately  resulted in  the  melting of  the  socket of  one phase of  Bus Bar and bursting  of  the  Transformer.
4. There is voluminous evidence on record to demonstrate that the cause of fire was the fault in the DVB Transformer.  To illustrate and not to exhaust the reports and the statements of Mr. K.L. Grover (Electrical Inspector), Mr. K.V. Singh (Technical Expert, DVB), Prof. M.L. Kothari (Expert, IIT, Delhi) and Dr. Rajinder Singh (Expert – CFSL) are relevant in this context.
5. The cause of death of 59 patrons was the smoke.  The cause   of smoke was the fire in DVB Transformer.  The cause of fire was absence of proper protection system, relays, trenches, earthing, etc. besides the improper repair and maintenance of DVB Transformer.  In this series of causes no role has been played by the Uphaar Management as such they cannot at all be held responsible for the death of 59 patrons.
6. No role is attributable to Uphaar Management for the fire which took place in DVB Transformer.  In fact the management of Uphaar has been deliberately victimized in the case only for the reason that the said transformer was installed inside the cinema premises.