PHOTO: PTI

GHERAO: Relatives of fire victims surround the new district magistrate of Meerut on Thursday.

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Government on Thursday admitted its failure in making any arrests in the Meerut trade fair fire tragedy that left nearly 50 dead and scores injured.

Principal Secretary (Home) S. K. Aggarwal said in Lucknow the Meerut police have so far failed to nab the three organisers of the fair against whom an FIR was lodged.

The FIR was registered against the organisers Lakhan Pal Tomar, Ashit Gupta and Siddharth Malhotra for negligence and damage to property. The three are part of Mrinal Exhibitions and Expositions Pvt Ltd, a Meerut- based firm.

The three air-conditioned pandals had only one exit and lacked any fire fighting equipment. Made of thermocol and plywood to retain the A C cooling, the material of the 100 metre-long pandals proved fatal after the short-circuit caused the fire.

While most died in the stampede, others were charred to death. The bodies of those killed in stampede were also charred in the fire which could only be controlled after two-and-a-half hours.

The State Government, meanwhile, said the number of deaths had increased to 42 with more of the injured succumbing to burns. But police sources maintained that the actual death toll is ``well above 60.'' About 133 persons were being treated for injuries, including burns.

Meanwhile, newly-appointed District Magistrate of Meerut Mukesh Meshram was on Thursday confronted by angry relatives of the victims.

Mr Meshram, who took over in the morning, was surrounded by relatives of the victims searching for their missing kin when he visited the Victoria Park.

The irate people charged the administration with trying to suppress the real number of casualties in the incident.

However, the District Magistrate assured them that the inquiry would go to the root of the matter and none of the guilty would be spared. ``I have full sympathy with all the affected and will personally visit their houses to ascertain their condition,'' he said.

He asked the relatives of the missing people to contact him personally. UNI

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