Fire Engulfs Gurugram’s Iconic Kingdom of Dreams in Sector 29

New Delhi: Kingdom of Dreams, the iconic entertainment venue in Gurugram's Sector 29, was engulfed in fire on Thursday. The fire department received an emergency call at around 6:50 am, but by the time they arrived, much of the structure had already been consumed by flames, fire officials reported. Thick black smoke could be seen rising above the city’s skyline as over 10 fire tenders rushed to the site, working for three hours to bring the fire under control.

Previous Fire Incidents at Kingdom of Dreams

This isn’t the first time fire has broken out at the Kingdom of Dreams. In July 2023, a fire erupted in the basement, raising concerns about the safety of the property, which has been closed for nearly three years. The Kingdom of Dreams, once a cultural landmark, was sealed by the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) in July 2022 for failing to clear ₹107 crore in unpaid dues.

The venue, leased under a long-term agreement with HSVP in February 2008 at a monthly rent of ₹36 lakh, faced financial difficulties, leading to mounting arrears and the eventual shutdown of the entertainment complex.

Kalra remarked, “The risk of fire incidents increases when a building remains unoccupied without regular maintenance. This is the second significant fire at the property in less than a year, and investigations are needed to determine whether negligence or foul play was involved.”

Spanning six acres, Kingdom of Dreams was once the premier entertainment destination in the National Capital Region, known for its live theatre productions, cultural shows, and its famous ‘Culture Gully,’ offering cuisines from 16 Indian states. Prior to its closure, the venue attracted nearly 700,000 visitors annually.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic severely impacted its operations, worsening the financial instability of the ₹350-crore project. Since 2014, the property has been embroiled in multiple legal battles, including a case filed by HSVP under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act after a ₹3.92 crore cheque issued by the Kingdom of Dreams management bounced.