Kolkata:
Three years ago, on this day, 92 people were killed in a fire at the AMRI hospital in Kolkata, leaving hundreds of friends and relatives bereaved.
To mark the tragedy's anniversary, families and friends gathered at the memorial for the AMRI victims in the Dhakuria Lakes where they held a blood donation camp, a candle vigil and a minute's silence.
The relatives of the victim want justice but lament the fact that the case is still in the court and no one has been punished. A chargesheet has been filed against 16 accused but the court is yet to frame the charges, only after which the trial can begin. There are over 400 witnesses in the case.
"We have filed a case in the Calcutta High Court about 10 days ago, demanding quick resolution of the case in the lower court. Three years have passed. We haven't got justice. Justice delayed is justice denied," said Paromita Guha Thakurta, who lost her mother in the incident.
The fire started in the basement of the hospital and sent up billows of smoke that engulfed the building. Fire brigade's response was delayed. Many hospital staff fled and by the time patients were pulled out, 92 of them had died.
The father of a young girl who lost her life in the incident had tears in his eyes as he placed a candle in front of the photograph of his daughter. "The accused are out on bail. There is no punishment for them. Even the hospital has not sent us one line in condolence," he said.
Raja Ganguly, who lost his father, still can't get over the horror of that day. "I stood outside helplessly while my father choked to death inside. I can't forget that," he said. "I want justice."
The memorial at Dhakuria Lakes has 92 names inscribed it.