Following the fatal fire at Vishal Mega Mart in Karol Bagh, Delhi, NGO Kutumb has approached the Delhi High Court, demanding a court-supervised investigation into alleged negligence by the store’s management, Delhi Police, Fire Services, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
The plea is linked to an ongoing case concerning another recent tragedy—the July 27, 2024 incident in Old Rajinder Nagar, where three students died after a drain burst flooded a UPSC coaching centre basement.
Kutumb has raised serious concerns over lax enforcement of safety norms and questioned how licenses and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) were granted to commercial establishments operating in crowded areas without meeting mandatory safety standards.
The NGO has urged the Court to investigate the roles of MCD, Fire Services, and Police officials for failing to enforce safety protocols. It also seeks an assessment of whether Vishal Mega Mart and surrounding businesses hold valid NOCs and requests identification and immediate closure of unlicensed commercial units in Karol Bagh and nearby localities until a safety report is submitted.
Additionally, the plea calls on Delhi Police to file a status report on the FIR and secure CCTV footage from July 4-5, the days surrounding the fire.
The fire on July 5 claimed the lives of 25-year-old Dhirender Pratap, who was found dead inside a lift, likely suffocated, and a second unidentified charred body recovered during firefighting efforts. Investigations indicate a suspected short circuit as the cause.
The court is expected to hear the application shortly.
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