Rajkot game zone fire updates | Nine children among 33 killed; Gujarat HC takes suo motu cognisance

As per the FIR, the accused persons erected a 50-metre wide and 60-metre long structure with the height of around two-three storey building using metal sheet fabrication to create a game zone.

They did not have a proper fire fighting equipment and had not obtained the no-objection certificate (NOC) from the local fire department, thereby endangering the lives of people despite knowing that a blaze in such a structure could cause deaths and injuries, said the FIR.

Yuvrajsinh Solanki, a partner in the Raceway Enterprise, which operated the TRP game zone, and the entertainment facility’s manager Nitin Jain have so far been arrested, Rajkot Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) Parthrajsinh Gohil said.

- PTI

An FIR has been lodged against six persons in the Rajkot fire mishap.

“We have registered the FIR against six people under IPC sections 304, 308, 336, 338, 114. Out of this two people have been arrested. The crime branch team is working to arrest others. Our effort is to complete the investigation as soon as possible and file a charge sheet in the case,” Rajkot Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava on the TRP Gaming Zone fire tragedy case.

- Mahesh Langa

The FIR in the game zone fire tragedy states that the game zone operators never applied for the fire NOC, nor did they have any fire safety equipment in the play area.

- Mahesh Langa

Gujarat High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the fire tragedy in Rajkot calling it a man-made disaster. 

“Prima facie, a man made disaster has occurred where innocent lives of children have been lost and families are grieving the loss of lives in their respective families,” the special bench led by Justice Biren Vaishnav noted citing newspapers reports.

He said that, “Newspaper reports indicate that gaming zone in Rajkot appears to have taken advantage of loopholes in the Gujarat Comprehensive General Development Control Regulations (GDCR). GDCR paves the way for creating illegal creational activities.”

- Mahesh Langa

A massive fire broke out at a children’s hospital in east Delhi’s Vivek Vihar, leaving seven newborns dead, officials said.

This tragedy occurred less than a day after the blaze in Gujarat’s Rajkot claimed at least 33 lives. 

Twelve newborns were rescued from the medical facility in Delhi, but seven of them died, DFS chief Atul Garg said.

Five babies are undergoing treatment at another hospital. 

According to sources, the massive fire from inside the play area teeming with people engulfed the entire TRP Game Zone within minutes and there were no fire extinguishers, emergency exits or trained personnel to handle the emergency evacuation.

There is no clarity on whether the play zone had taken a no-objection certificate from the fire department. Now the State government has constituted a probe team to investigate and ascertain whether the TRP Game Zone had the necessary licences and approvals from the authorities.

“There is not clarity about how many people were inside and what caused the fire,” a senior official from Rajkot told The Hindu, adding “since it’s vacation and weekend, the place became overcrowded and the management did not restrict the number of people inside the building.” 

Condoling the loss of lives in the Rajkot fire tragedy, the Congress on May 25 said accountability should be fixed in the incident by the BJP government in Gujarat as soon as possible and the culprits should be given the strictest punishment.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asked party workers to provide all possible help to those affected by the accident so that the victims do not face any problem regarding treatment or compensation.

The four-year-old sprawling amusement park was built in temporary structures that had tin roofs and two floors. 

According to sources, several barrels of diesel for generators and other fuel materials for various rides were stored in the premises which had neither emergency exits nor any trained personnel to handle any emergency situations.

Also, there were not any advanced fire extinguishers except smaller ones which were not even used as there was nobody to handle the situation when the flames engulfed the building.

- Mahesh Langa

The five-member SIT formed by the Gujarat government, to conduct a probe into the incident and submit a report within 72 hours, reached Rajkot late on May 25 night and held a meeting with the local administration. 

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the incident site at Nana-Mava road on May 26 morning and a hospital where the injured persons were admitted.

The owner and manager of the game zone have been arrested, officials said.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi on May 26 took stock of the situation at TRP game zone in Rajkot where a massive fire broke out on Saturday claiming the lives of 33 people, including nine children below the age of 16.

- Mahesh Langa

Members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) held a meeting with local administration in Gujarat’s Rajkot city in the wee hours of May 26 in connection with the fire at a game zone fire here that left 27 persons dead and three injured.

The bodies were charred beyond recognition. The DNA samples of the bodies and the victim’s relatives have been collected for identification of the deceased, they said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asked party workers to provide all possible help to those affected by the accident so that the victims do not face any problems regarding treatment or compensation. 

- PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday condoled the deaths of several people in the Rajkot fire incident. She extended her condolences to the bereaved families.

Two people, including the owner and manager of the TRP game zone in Rajkot, have been taken to a police station for interrogation into the fire incident at the gaming facility.

- ANI

Condoling the loss of lives in the Rajkot fire tragedy, the Congress on Saturday said accountability should be fixed in the incident by the BJP government in Gujarat as soon as possible and the culprits should be given the strictest punishment.

- PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the news of the incident is extremely “disheartening.

“I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families. I hope that all the injured recover as soon as possible. Congress workers are requested to provide all possible assistance to the administration in relief and rescue work”, Mr. Gandhi said in a post on X. 

It is expected from the Gujarat government and administration that they should conduct a detailed and impartial investigation of this incident and provide speedy justice to all the bereaved families, he added.

Delhi Chief Minsiter Arvind Kejriwal in a post on X said, “The fire incident at a Rajkot mall is very sad. My condolences to all the families who lost their loved ones in this accident, may God give courage to all the families and ensure speedy recovery of the injured”.

Gujarat government sets up a five member SIT headed by additional DG (CID, Crime) Subhash Trivedi to investigate the gruesome incident.

With rescue efforts continuing at the scene in the Rajkot district, the local mayor told Reuters the death toll was expected to rise.

“Our focus is on rescue operations and saving lives. We will ensure strict action is taken against the people who are responsible for this incident,” Mayor Nayana Pedhadiya said.

A police official at the local civil hospital said some of the bodies were charred beyond recognition.

The district’s chief fire officer, IV Kher, said firefighters had almost brought the fire under control.

“The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained,” he told Reuters.

The Congress demanded that the Maharashtra government conduct a fire safety audit of game zones and malls to prevent incidents like the Rajkot fire tragedy in Gujarat which claimed 22 lives.

Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad expressed shock over the death of children in the huge fire at a game zone in Rajkot.

“Just announcing compensation will not be enough. The Gujarat government needs to take strong measures to ensure the safety of the lives of people,” the Congress leader said.

The Maharashtra government and the Mumbai municipal administration should conduct a fire safety audit of game zones and malls in the city and the rest of the state immediately, Mr. Gaikwad added.

- PTI

Gujarat DGP directs inspection of all children game zones across the state. All zones operating without valid fire NOC and fire safety equipment to be shut immediately amidst allegations that the TRP gaming zone in Rajkot did not have fire NOC.

Home Minister Amit Shah said in a post on X, ”Deeply saddened by the accident that took place at the gaming zone in Rajkot (Gujarat). I spoke to Chief Minister Shri @Bhupendrabjp. The administration is making every possible effort for relief and rescue work and is providing treatment to the injured. I express my deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this tragic accident and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured”.

The gaming zone was privately owned by Yuvraj Singh Solanki and the police will file a case of negligence against him, Mr. Bhargava was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. “We will be registering an offence for negligence and the deaths which have occurred. Further investigation will take place once we complete the rescue operation,” he said.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the state government to take stern action against those responsible for the tragedy.

- Mahesh Langa

“The Fire control room received a call at around 4:30 pm regarding the blaze at the game zone. Fire tenders and ambulances rushed to the spot to douse the flames. The fire caused the collapse of the structure, and debris is being cleared. So far we have received a figure of 16 deaths,” said Rajkot Collector Prabhav Joshi.

After the fire broke out, Rajkot Police Commissioner Raju Bhargav told media persons that the cause of the blaze would be investigated and that a message had been issued to all the gaming zones in the city to close operations.

- PTI

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel tweeted that the city administration has been instructed to carry out immediate rescue and relief operations in the fire incident at the game zone in Rajkot.

“Instructions have been given to the Municipal Corporation and the administration for immediate rescue and relief operations in the fire incident in the game zone in Rajkot. It has been instructed to prioritise arrangements for immediate treatment of the injured,” Mr. Patel tweeted.

- PTI

The blaze erupted at around 5 p.m. at a fibre dome for gaming activities and several persons including children were playing games when the blaze erupted, officials said.

Credit: Special Arrangement

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announces setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the fire tragedy.

The chief minister has also announced compensation of ₹4 lakh to the families of deceased & ₹50000 for those injured in the fire.