Rajkot Gaming Zone Fire: 27 Including 4 Children Dead, PM Modi Expresses Grief

At least 27 people including 4 children have died in the tragic incident and police will commence an investigation once the rescue operation is concluded.

New Delhi: A massive fire engulfed a gaming zone in Gujarat's Rajkot on Saturday evening and at least 27 people including 4 children died in the incident. According to officials relief and Rescue operations have been underway at the affected TRP game zone for more than five hours after the blaze erupted at a fibre dome constructed for gaming activities at around 4:30 pm, adding that the structure collapsed due to the huge fire.

Speaking to ANI, Rajkot Commissioner of Police, Raju Bhargava said, "The fire is under control, and the rescue operations are ongoing." "Around 20 bodies have been recovered and sent to the hospital for post-mortem examination. A probe will be taken up after the rescue and dousing operations," the Commissioner said.

The exact reason behind the fire is not yet clear. The commissioner said that the police will be registering an offence for negligence against the gaming zome owner and a probe will be launched once the rescue operation is concluded.

"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," said Bhargava.

#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

Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel took on 'X' to respond to the incident and wrote, "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."

Patel has announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to each injured. He also set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief at the loss of lives in the fire tragedy and said the local administration is working to provide all possible assistance to those affected. PM spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to enquire about the rescue and relief efforts.

"The fire tragedy in Rajkot has saddened us all. In my telephone conversation with him a short while ago, Gujarat CM Bhupendrabhai Patel Ji told me about the efforts underway to ensure all possible assistance is provided to those who have been affected," he said on X.