A devastating fire broke out at the TRP game zone in Rajkot, Gujarat, on Saturday, resulting in the tragic loss of 22 lives, including at least nine children. The blaze erupted in the afternoon, prompting a swift response from local authorities and emergency services. Several fire tenders were dispatched to the scene, and intense efforts are ongoing to extinguish the flames and rescue those trapped.
Raju Bhargava, Police Commissioner of Rajkot, provided an update on the situation, stating, “Fire broke out in the TRP gaming zone in the afternoon. The rescue operations are on. The fire is under control. We are trying to retrieve as many bodies as possible. As of now, around 20 bodies have been recovered and they have been sent to the hospital for further investigation.“
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The owner and manager of the TRP game zone are currently under interrogation. “The gaming zone is owned by a person called Yuvraj Singh Solanki. We will be registering an offence for negligence and the deaths which have occurred. The further investigation will take place once we complete the rescue operations here,” Commissioner Bhargava added. Fire officer IV Kher mentioned that the cause of the fire remains unknown, and the firefighting efforts are hampered by the collapse of the temporary structure and high wind velocity.
Reports indicate that 15 to 20 children were successfully rescued from the inferno.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the tragic incident. In a post on X, he wrote, “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.“
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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 25, 2024
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced compensation for the victims’ families, with ₹4 lakh to be provided to the families of the deceased and ₹50 thousand to the injured. He has instructed the municipal corporation and local administration to prioritize rescue and relief operations and ensure immediate treatment for the injured.
રાજકોટમાં ગેમ ઝોનમાં સર્જાયેલી આગની દુર્ઘટનામાં તત્કાલ બચાવ અને રાહત કામગીરી માટે મહાનગરપાલિકા અને વહીવટી તંત્રને સૂચનાઓ આપી છે. ઇજાગ્રસ્ત લોકોને તાત્કાલિક સારવાર મળે તે માટેની વ્યવસ્થાઓને અગ્રતા આપવા પણ સૂચના આપી છે.
— Bhupendra Patel (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Bhupendrapbjp) May 25, 2024
BJP MLA Darshita Shah expressed her condolences, stating, “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.“
This incident follows another tragic fire in Maharashtra’s Dombivli industrial area on Thursday, which claimed at least ten lives and injured more than 60. The explosion was severe, causing widespread damage to nearby structures. Malay Mehta, owner of Amudan Chemicals, has been remanded in police custody as investigations continue.
The back-to-back fire incidents have raised serious concerns about safety protocols and emergency preparedness in public spaces and industrial zones across India.
