Ahmedabad, India – A devastating fire at the TRP Gamezone in Rajkot on Saturday has claimed the lives of 27 people, with many feared to be children. The fire, which originated from an explosion in the air conditioning unit, quickly engulfed the gaming zone in thick smoke, leading to a tragic loss of life.
Local residents reported that over 30 children and their parents were trapped inside the gaming zone when the fire broke out. The fire department responded promptly to the scene and managed to rescue many individuals, but the intensity of the blaze posed challenges to the rescue efforts.
Rajkot District Collector, Prabhav Joshi, stated that the fire started around 4:30 PM and resulted in the collapse of the temporary structure at the gaming zone. An investigation into the incident is underway, with a high-level inquiry committee being established to determine the cause of the fire and the resulting fatalities.
Rajkot Police Commissioner, Raju Bhargav, emphasized that the priority is the recovery of as many bodies as possible. Currently, around 20 bodies have been retrieved and transferred to the hospital for further examination. Charges for negligence are expected to be filed against the owner and manager of the gaming zone.
The fire department officials are actively working to recover more bodies, but the exact number of casualties remains uncertain at this time. Efforts to extinguish the fire are ongoing, with challenges posed by the collapse of the structure and high wind velocity.
Following the tragic incident, the government has ordered all gaming zones in the state to cease operations, with comprehensive inspections of fire safety measures being planned at these sites. Additionally, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the fire tragedy, with three individuals reportedly detained in connection with the case.
In the wake of the fire, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has directed immediate rescue and relief operations at the gaming zone. Political leader Rahul Gandhi has called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident, urging Congress workers to assist in relief activities and emphasizing the importance of swift justice for the affected families.