New video shows how fire started at Rajkot's game zone
What's the story
Newly released footage of the tragic fire in Gujarat's Rajkot has shown the moment the blaze ignited during welding activities. A massive fire broke out at the TRP game zone in Rajkot on Saturday afternoon, which killed 28 persons—including four children. News agency PTI posted a video showing a massive fire fueled by highly flammable materials breaking out at a gaming zone. Several people were seen trying to remove the combustible items from the area.
Fire spread
Inflammable materials fueled Rajkot game zone fire
The gaming zone was reportedly filled with highly inflammable items such as fuel, tires, fiberglass shades, and thermocol sheet partitions. These materials created an extremely combustible environment that contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Police noted that the gaming zone lacked the required fire safety clearance from the city's municipal corporation at the time of the incident. They also mentioned that while the game zone had fire safety equipment, the measures taken to control the fire were insufficient.
Twitter Post
Trigger warning: Video of the fire at Game Zone
VIDEO | CCTV footage of fire that broke out at game zone in Rajkot yesterday, leading to the death of 27 people.#Rajkotfire pic.twitter.com/bvmi1YQ36I
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 26, 2024
Culpable homicide
Owner, manager arrested
The owner and partner and the manager of the Rajkot-based TRP game zone have been arrested on charges of culpable homicide. Rajkot taluka police have booked six people for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, including Dhaval Corporation proprietor Dhaval Thakkar and Raceway Enterprise partners Ashoksinh Jadeja, Kiritsinh Jadeja, Prakash Chand Hiran, Yuvrajsinh Solanki, and Rahul Rathod, according to the first information report.
HC reacts
HC slams Gujarat government, municipal body over tragedy
Separately, on Monday, the Gujarat High Court rapped the state government and the municipal body over the fire at the gaming zone. The court was informed that these gaming zones had been operating without necessary permits for over two years. "This has been going on for two-and-a-half years (referring to the Rajkot gaming zone). Are we to assume you turned a blind eye? What do you and your followers do?" the court said.