A gaming zone in Rajkot, Gujarat, was engulfed in a massive fire on Saturday evening, leading to the tragic loss of twenty-two lives, as confirmed by officials. The bodies, tragically, were so extensively burnt that identification has become a challenging task, lamented Assistant Commissioner of Police Vinayak Patel.
Expressing deep sorrow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended sympathies to the bereaved families and urged prayers for the injured. President Droupadi Murmu echoed the sentiment, praying for swift recovery for the rescued.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel promptly directed authorities to prioritize medical assistance for the injured and initiate immediate rescue efforts. The Municipal Corporation and administration were instructed to coordinate rescue and relief operations.
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
Rajkot Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava reported that around twenty bodies had been recovered, with investigations underway into the negligence that led to the incident. The gaming zone’s owner, Yuvraj Singh Solanki, may face charges for negligence resulting in loss of lives.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, with investigations ongoing. Challenges persist in the firefighting efforts due to the collapse of temporary structures and wind velocity. Fire officers are diligently working to contain the blaze and ascertain any missing persons.
#WATCH | Rajkot, Gujarat: Fire officer IV Kher says, "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… https://t.co/Gd9N1Pd8ka pic.twitter.com/v09kJcL0V3
— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2024
Once the fire is extinguished, efforts will focus on determining the exact number of casualties and investigating the cause. Meanwhile, a directive has been issued to shut down all gaming zones in the city as a precautionary measure.