RAJKOT: A devastating fire at TRP Game Zone on Kalavad Road has resulted in 28 deaths, with several people still missing. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and top officials are overseeing rescue operations. DNA tests are being conducted to identify victims.
A list of 27 dead and several missing individuals has been released following a fire that broke out at TRP Game Zone on Rajkot's Kalavad Road. The tragic incident, which occurred on Saturday evening, led to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visiting Rajkot with senior state officials, including Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi.
Rescue and Recovery Operations
Debris removal continued through Sunday morning as officials worked tirelessly at the incident site. The fire, which has now claimed 28 lives, left bodies in such a state that identification is challenging. To facilitate this, DNA testing of family members is underway. Samples are being collected at the same location in Rajkot Civil Hospital that previously served as a COVID ward. By 4:30 am on Sunday, 25 DNA samples were sent to Gandhinagar via air ambulance, with results expected within 48 hours.
Many residents from Junagadh have arrived in Rajkot searching for their missing relatives. Sixteen bodies are stored at AIIMS Rajkot, while 11 are at Rajkot Civil Hospital. The biggest hurdle post-fire was the rescue effort, which involved clearing the path with bulldozers. Five bulldozers from Solid Waste Management were employed to demolish the entire shed, with work continuing into the morning.
Cause of the Fire
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was triggered by a spark during the welding of a ladder, leading to an explosion and subsequent fire. The blaze rapidly spread to the third floor due to the game zone's rubber-rexine flooring, 2500 liters of diesel for children's cars, and over a thousand colored tires. The iron and tin structure with thermocol partitions exacerbated the fire's spread, trapping children and other occupants.
Arrests and Investigation
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the incident. Rajkot Police have arrested Yuvraj Singh Solanki, one of the game zone's owners, while other owners are being sought. Rahul Rathod, another partner supervising the welding work, remains at large. Yuvraj Singh owns 15% of TRP Game Zone, while the primary owner, Prakash Jain, hails from Rajasthan. Another partner, Rahul Rathod, managed maintenance work but has not yet been apprehended. Yogesh Pathak and Nitin Jain, game zone managers, are also involved. The land on which the game zone operates belongs to Giriraj Singh Jadeja.
This tragic incident underscores the critical need for stringent safety measures and adherence to regulations in public entertainment venues.
