At least twenty-four people were killed after a massive fire erupted at a gaming zone in Rajkot, Gujarat, on Saturday evening. Multiple fire tenders were dispatched to the scene. Initial investigation revealed that the TRP gaming zone, owned by Yuvraj Singh Solanki, lacked the necessary fire safety clearance from the authorities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief at the incident. He posted on X, "Extremely distressed by the fire mishap in Rajkot. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for the injured. The local administration is working to provide all possible assistance to those affected."
Speaking about the incident, CM Bhupendra Patel said ₹4 lakh will be provided to the families of the deceased and ₹50 thousand will be given to the injured.
Bhupendra Patel has also instructed the municipal corporation and the administration for immediate rescue and relief operations in the fire incident. "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 also been instructed to prioritize arrangements for immediate treatment of the injured," Bhupendra Patel posted on X.
It took more than two hours for the fire and rescue teams to douse the blaze, ANI reported on Saturday.
Speaking about the incident BJP MLA Darshita Shah told ANI, "A very sad incident has happened in Rajkot today. This is the first time in the history of Rajkot that children have lost their lives due to a fire in a game zone… The government will take action on the matter but right now the priority is to save as many people as possible ..."
Rajkot city police commissioner Raju Bhargava said that the owner and the manager of the TRP game zone have been taken to the police station following the incident.
In an unrelated incident, at least ten people were killed, and more than 60 were injured after a fire broke out in the industrial area of Maharashtra's Dombivli on Thursday. Massive plumes of smoke were visible. The explosion was reportedly heard up to 3 kilometers away from the blast site.
The impact of the blast was so severe that it shattered window panes of houses and damaged cars, roads and electric poles in the vicinity, officials had said. A court in Maharashtra's Thane district on Saturday remanded in police custody till May 29 the owner of the chemical factory in Dombivli. The accused, Malay Mehta (38), owner of Amudan Chemicals, was produced before the magistrate court in Kalyan. The crime branch's Ulhasnagar unit has taken over the investigation. The police have registered an FIR against the company owners, directors, management staff and officials.
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The accused have been booked for culpable homicide (section 304), voluntarily causing hurt and negligent conduct with respect to combustible matter and explosive substances under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
