2 years after AMRI fire, relatives of victims await justice

Two years after 90 patients and others choked to death in fumes from a fire at AMRI hospital in Dhakuria, the families of victims expressed anger that justice has not been done yet.
"It has been two years, but we are yet to get justice. We have heard that the hospital will reopen. We still hope that truth will prevail and my family will get justice," said Suvojit Roy, who lost his 65-year-old sister Gita Roy Chowdhury in the incident on December 9, 2011.
"We demand speedy justice and punishment to those guilty. Only those who have lost their near and dear ones can understand the pain," said Abhijit Sen, son of Sisir Kumar Sen, who also died in the incident.

West Bengal Minister of State for Health Chandrima Bhattacharya said that the matter was pending in court. "The matter is in the court. I won't say anything on it," she said.
Earlier, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had demanded stringent punishment for the accused. The government has compensated the families of the victims.
"Yes, the government might have given compensation, but can a human life be measured by money? We are still hopeful that the system will not fail us, we will get justice," said Pradip Dutta, brother of Dipali Das, another victim.

The fire also led to misery for some of the families of victims who were the sole bread winner.

"The death of my husband was a shock, with his death we are in a misery. I have two sons who are still studying and I have to run the family. It is very tough," said the wife of another victim.
A forum was formed after the incident with relatives of victims as its members to pursue the case in court.
"The case is now moving fast. There is a hearing very soon and we only pray that justice is not far away," said Anirudhha Roy Chowdhury, a member of the forum.