Gurugram, March 13 — A massive fire engulfed Gurugram’s Kingdom of Dreams early Thursday, reducing large sections of the iconic entertainment venue in Sector 29 to ashes before firefighters arrived. The structure, sealed nearly three years ago over unpaid dues, was unoccupied, and no casualties were reported.
The fire department received an emergency call at 6:50 am, but much of the building had already burned down. Thick black smoke billowed over the city’s skyline as more than 10 fire tenders battled the blaze for three hours.
“Six fire vehicles from Sector 29 were dispatched, with backup teams from Udyog Vihar, Bhim Nagar, Sector 37, and IMT Manesar. After an intense hour-long battle, the flames were contained, but the cause remains unknown,” said Gulshan Kalra, deputy director (technical) of Haryana Fire and Emergency Services.
Second Fire at Sealed Property
This is the second fire at the venue in less than a year. In July 2023, a similar blaze broke out in the basement, raising concerns over the deteriorating structure.
Kingdom of Dreams, once a hub for live theatre and cultural performances, was sealed by the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) in July 2022 over unpaid dues of ₹107 crore. The venue, leased in 2008 at ₹36 lakh per month, struggled financially, leading to its closure.
“The risk of fire incidents increases when a property is abandoned and lacks maintenance. Given this is the second major fire here, investigations are needed to rule out negligence or foul play,” Kalra added.
Spread over six acres, Kingdom of Dreams was once a premier entertainment destination, featuring live theatre, cultural showcases, and ‘Culture Gully’—a street recreating cuisines from 16 Indian states. Before its closure, it drew nearly 7,00,000 visitors annually.
However, financial troubles, worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic, pushed the ₹350-crore project into legal disputes, including a case filed by HSVP after a ₹3.92 crore cheque bounced in 2014.
Now, the abandoned structure faces further deterioration. Authorities have assured a thorough investigation into Thursday’s fire and measures to prevent future incidents.
