Rajkot: At least twenty seven people, mostly kids, were reportedly killed while several others sustained severe burn injuries after a massive fire broke out at a gaming zone in Gujarat’s Rajkot city on Saturday evening. Several people, including children, are feared trapped as the entire gaming facility was engulfed in flames. The fire erupted at around 5.30 pm in the evening at the TRP game zone in Rajkot, where several children were playing games. PTI reports, majority present there were children due to summer vacations in schools. 

On information, several fire tenders rushed to the spot and a rescue operation was initiated. The fire personnel stated that the efforts are being made to douse the fire and carry out a search operation to ascertain exact information about loss of lives.

Rajkot Gaming Zone Fire | Latest Inputs 

Death toll rises to 27: Police official

Assistant Commissioner of Police Radhika Bharai confirmed that the death toll has risen to 27 in the Rajkot gaming zone fire incident. She said, “So far we have confirmed the death of 27 persons in the fire incident. The bodies are charred beyond recognition and hence their identification is difficult."

SIT under ADGP CID Crime to probe fire incident

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP, CID Crime) Subhash Trivedi will lead a five-member SIT team to probe the tragic Rajkot gaming zone fire incident, which claimed lives of over 27 people, mostly children on Saturday. 

Gaming zone was operational under temporary structure

According to the district administration, the gaming zone was built under a tin shed, which was not having any fire NOC. No paper trail has been found for the gaming zone so far. It is being said that the gaming zone was being operational under a temporary structure and was being operated illegally. 

CM Bhupendra Patel announces Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50 thousand to the injured. He tweeted, “The fire tragedy in Rajkot is heart-wrenching. I express my heartfelt condolences to the persons who lost their lives in this incident and their families. I pray to God for speedy recovery of the injured. The state government will provide Rs 4 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50 thousand to the injured.

Strictest action will be ensured: CM

CM Patel said, “It is very important to ensure that such an incident does not happen again. Any kind of negligence will not be entertained in this event. In this regard, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed and assigned to investigate the entire incident.”

Gujarat Home Minister en route to Rajkot

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi is en route to Rajkot. He will be visiting the fire incident site at the TRP gaming zone, where he will supervise the ongoing rescue operations. He will also visit various hospitals, where the victims have been hospitalised. 

Case of Negligence imposed on owners

Police Commissioner of Rajkot, Raju Bhargav stated that an investigation has been launched in the incident. The owner and the manager of the gaming zone have been taken into custody. The police have registered a case of negligence and are questioning the owner and manager.

Helpline number issued

Amid all the efforts and arrangements being made by the Gujarat government and Rajkot administration to assist the victims of the gaming zone fire incident, which claimed lives of at least 27 people on Saturday, a helpline number +917698983267 has been issued by the administration to help the families of the victims. 

30 ICU beds prepared at AIIMS Rajkot

30 ICU beds have been prepared in AIIMS Rajkot for the best treatment of the injured. Along with this, instructions have also been given to AIIMS to provide full help: Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya

Fire safety equipment kept wrapped in plastic

Republic Media Network accessed an exclusive video, wherein the fire safety equipment can be seen kept wrapped in plastic at a corner inside the gaming zone establishment. It was claimed that the fire safety equipment was not installed, even though they were kept inside. 

CM Bhupendra Patel likely to visit the spot

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is likely to visit the spot and take stock of the rescue operation being carried out at the site.

No application ever submitted seeking fire NOC: Official

A chief fire officer, while talking exclusively to Republic Media Network, stated that no fire NOC was taken by the owner of the gaming zone. No application ever was submitted by the gaming zone management to the fire services of Rajkot seeking fire NOC, confirmed the official. Additionally, there was no permission for the rides as well, which were being operated there. 

PM Modi dials CM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and took stock of the situation.

SIT to probe fire incident 

The Gujarat government has reportedly constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the fire incident. 

No fire NOC taken: Sources

According to the sources, there was no fire NOC was taken by the owner of the gaming zone in Rajkot, where massive fire claimed at least 27 lives so far.

PM Modi expresses grief

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the fire incident through a post on X, saying, “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.”

DNA test to be conducted

A senior police official stated that most of the bodies recovered from the site were in a condition that it is difficult to identify them. In order to ascertain the identity of the victims, DNA test will be carried out, says police official. 

Blast in AC caused fire: Sources

Prima-facie, it appears that the fire erupted due to a blast in an air-conditioner, which quickly spread inside the establishment and engulfed the entire zone. However, the police are probing to ascertain the exact cause of fire.

Owner of the Gaming Zone detained

Meanwhile, game zone owner Yuvraj Singh Solanki was reportedly detained by the Rajkot police. The police are also looking for the game zone manager. It has been learned that renovation work was going on in a part of this game zone, during which the game zone was closed two days ago due to a short circuit. However a day after the game zone was again opened.

Charred bodies are being difficult to identity: Police

According to the Rajkot police, efforts are being made to identify the deceased. The police are saying that some of the charred bodies were difficult to identify.

During the initial inquiry, it was found that there were some lapses in precautionary fire emergency equipment in the gaming zone. The cause of the fire is not known yet and the police are probing to ascertain the truth behind the fire.

Search Operation underway

A senior fire department officer of Rajkot stated, "The reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained. The attempts to douse the fire are underway. We have not received any message of missing persons. We are facing difficulty in the firefighting operation because the temporary structure has collapsed due to wind velocity."

Speaking to the media, Rajkot Police Commissioner Raju Bhargav said, “A fire broke out at the TRP gaming zone and there is information of casualties.”

Fire official RA Joban said, "We are unable to provide the exact number of casualties at this time. Our teams are working to recover bodies from both sides of the incident. The search operation is currently ongoing."

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel 

Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel took to X and said, “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.”