Rajkot Fire Live Updates: Death roll rises to 28; PM Modi announces ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for kin of fire incident victims (2024)

In an interaction with the media, Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava said, "FIR was registered against 6 people under IPC sections 304, 308, 336, 338, 114. Out of which 2 people have been arrested. The crime branch team is working to arrest others..."

#WATCH | Gujarat: On TRP Gaming Zone firing incident in Rajkot, Raju Bhargava, Police Commissioner, Rajkot says, "FIR was registered against 6 people under IPC sections 304, 308, 336, 338, 114. Out of which 2 people have been arrested. The crime branch team is working to arrest… pic.twitter.com/tsSq575aK6

— ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2024

“Of the nine injured, six have been discharged from hospital,” Rajkot District Collector Prabhav Joshi said. The identification of the victims is likely to take a few more hours as forensic experts are trying to match their DNA with that of their kin, he added.

Within minutes after the fire broke out at the amusem*nt park on Nana Mava Road, it engulfed the two-storey tin-shed with indoor gaming facilities. Till 11 am on Sunday, 27 people were confirmed dead, while nine others were injured.

"Prima facie, a man-made disaster has occurred where innocent lives of children have been lost" and families have grieved their loss, the Gujarat High Court which took suo motu cognisance of the fire incident said on Sunday.

'We are shocked to read newspaper reports which indicate that the gaming zone at Rajkot appears to have taken advantage of the loopholes in the Gujarat Comprehensive General Development Control Regulations (GDCR). These entertainment zones, as newspapers suggest, have come up without the necessary approvals from the competent authorities,' the court said.

The HC also wanted to know from the state government and the municipal corporations 'whether such licenses, including the licenses to its use and compliance of fire safety regulations' were given to these respective (entertainment) zones that are in territorial jurisdiction of these corporations.

Not just Rajkot, such game zones have come up in Ahmedabad city as well and they 'pose a significant threat to public safety, specially the innocent children,' it said.

A list put out by the Rajkot Civil hospital, declared the following as 'missing':

1. Namrajitsinh Jaipalsinh Jadeja, 23
2. Virendrasinh Nirmalsinh Jadeja, 44

3. Dharmrajsinh Virendrasinh Jadeja, 15
4. Devanshi Hitendrasinh Jadeja, 15
5. Sumilbhai Hasmukhbhai Siddhpura, 45
6. Omdevsinh Gajendrasinh Gohil, 35
7. Akshat Kishorebhai Dholariya, 24
8. Khyatiben Savaliya, 20
19. Haritaben Savaliya, 24
10. Vishwarajsinh Jadeja, 23
11. Kalpesh Bagda, 22
12. Surpalsinh Aniruddhsinh Jadeja
13. Nirav Rasikbhai Vekariya, 20
14. Satyapalsinh Jadeja, 17
15. Shatrughnasinh Chudasama, 17
16. Jayant Gorecha,
17. Surpalsinh Jadeja
18. Namanjitsinh Jadeja,
19, Mitesh babubhai jadav, 25
20. Omdevsinh Chudsama, 35- Bhavnagar
21. Virendrasinh
22. Kathad Ashaben Chandubhai, 18
23. Rajbha Pradeepsinh Chaudhan, 12,
24. Rameshkumar Nastaram, - Barmer,
25. Satyapalsinh Chattrapalsinh Jadeja
26. Monu Keshav Gaur, 17

Relatives and friends of the victims of the gaming zone fire gathered outside the Rajkot Civil Hospital on Sunday morning, anxiously waiting for an update on their dear ones.

The fire at the TRP gaming zone killed at least 27 people and injured nine others. The bodies were charred beyond recognition, sources have told The Indian Express. DNA samples are being taken to identify the victims

The authorities have released a list of 26 missing people, including at least seven minors: Dharamrajsinh Virendrasinh Jadeja, 15; Devanshi Hitendrasinh Jadeja, 15; Rajbha Pradeepsinh Chauhan, 12; Monu, 17; Satyapalsinh Jadeja, 17; Shatrughnasinh Chudasama, 17; and Ashaben Chandubhai Kathad, 18. At least four of the missing are females

Express photo by Chirag Chotaliya

After the state government announced ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to families of victims of the fire at Rajkot's gaming zone, the Prime Minister's Office has also announced Rs 2 lakh to kin of deceased, Rs 50,000 to those of injured. This is from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, the PMO said.

"In the wake of the fire tragedy at a hospital in Delhi, the Prime Minister has announced that an ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. Rs. 50,000 would be given to each of those injured," the PMO said in a post on X on Sunday afternoon.

In a special bench sitting on Sunday morning, a division bench of Justices Biren Vaishnav and Devan Desai took suo motu cognisance of news reports of the fire at a gaming zone in Rajkot on Saturday which killed over 27 people.

The bench has sought the state as well as municipal corporations in the state to submit as to under what provisions of law such gaming zone and recreational facilities are being allowed to run.

Taking note of news reports that indicate that the Rajkot gaming zone “appears to have taken advantage of the loopholes in the Gujarat Comprehensive General Development Control Regulations (GDCR) which paved the way for creating illegal recreational activities,” the bench expressed that it is “shocked” and termed the incident as a “man made disaster”.

The FIR comes a day after a fire broke out at TRP gaming zone/amusem*nt park on Nana Mava Road of Rajkot city late on Saturday evening. Till 11 am on Sunday, 27 people were confirmed dead while nine others were injured. “Of the nine injured, six have been discharged from hospital,” Rajkot collector Prabhav Joshi said.

The FIR has been registered on the basis of a complaint filed by police sub-inspector Trajiya. “We have booked the accused under IPC Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder, 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 337 (Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) 338 (Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 114 (abettor present when offence is committed),” said another senior officer of the Rajkot city police.

The owner and manager of the gaming zone in Rajkot are among the six persons booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder on Sunday even as an SIT launched its investigation into the incident.

“An FIR has been registered against six persons, including TRP amusem*nt park owner Yuvrajsinh Solanki, manager Nitin Jain and others. Solanki and Jain have been taken into custody,” a police officer privy to the development told The Indian Express on Sunday.

Ilesh Kher, chief fire officer of Rajkot, told The Indian Express at 6.40 am that firemen were still removing debris from the accident site. “While no person is reported missing now, the work of removing debris from the site is still in progress,” he said.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi reach AIIMS, Rajkot to meet the injured of the TRP Gaming Zone fire incident.

30 ICU beds have been prepared to treat the injured in the fire incident

#WATCH | Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi reach AIIMS, Rajkot to meet the injured of the TRP Gaming Zone fire incident.

A fire broke out at TRP Gaming Zone in Rajkot, yesterday, which claimed the lives of 27 people. pic.twitter.com/BYeoEgKYti

— ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2024

The five-member SIT formed by the state government, to conduct a probe into the incident and submit a report within 72 hours, reached Rajkot late Saturday night and held a meeting with the local administration.

The SIT, headed by ADGP Trivedi, includes Commissioner, Technical Education, BN Pani; Director, Forensic Science Laboratory, Gandhinagar, HP Sanghvi; Chief Fire Officer, Ahmedabad, JN Khadia; and Superintending Engineer, Roads and Buildings Department, MB Desai.

“Plywood and other construction material lying in the area caught fire all of a sudden. The fire spread within seconds and sent people running helter-skelter. A few staff members tried to put it out by using fire extinguishers, but to no avail,” said Yash Patoliya, a visitor at the gaming zone.

Layout of the game zone

“The gaming zone was a two-storey structure. The ground-floor had the reception area, and the floor above that had facilities like trampoline, bowling etc. We tried to go to the upper floor to rescue people, but there was too much smoke,” he added.

Another eyewitness shared that there were at least 70 to 80 people, including children, on the first floor when the fire broke out. “Some welding work was being carried out on the ground floor, the fire started from there,” said Pruthvirajsinh Jadeja, who had come to TRP with two of his friends.

In a video statement following the fire incident at the indoor game zone, Gujarat Congress chief and Rajya SabhaMP Shaktisinh Gohil said, “Children have been burnt to ashes… it is being said that the bodies cannot be identified… DNA testing may be required. Be it Morbi bridge (collapse in 2022), Palanpur bridge (incident last year) , Vadodara boat capsize (in January), fire at aSuratbuilding (in 2019) — if this can’t be called negligence then what can be?”

“TheBJPhas 156 seats (in the Gujarat Assembly)… are they not accountable? The High Court has repeatedly told the government to make complete arrangements for fire safety. No amount of compensation can bring back a person. What is the administration doing? The BJP is in the corporation, in the state, in the Centre, so is it not their responsibility?” he asked.

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi take stock of the situation at TRP game zone in Rajkot where a massive fire broke out yesterday claiming the lives of 27 people.

#WATCH | Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi took stock of the situation at TRP game zone in Rajkot where a massive fire broke out yesterday claiming the lives of 27 people. pic.twitter.com/ks1YhRszH2

— ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2024

A police officer told The Indian Express that the process is still on for filing an FIR in connection with the fire at TRP gaming zone.

Rajkot mayor Nayna Pedhadiya said on Saturday that they will launch an investigation as to how such a big gaming zone was functioning without a fire NOC. “This is no small incident. It should not be politicised,” Pedhadiya told media persons after she arrived at the site of the accident to oversee search and rescue operations.

An eyewitness, Pruthvirajsinh Jadeja who had come to TRP with two of his friends, said there were at least 70 to 80 people, including children, on the first floor when the fire broke out. “Some welding work was being carried out on the ground floor, the fire started from there,” he said.

Rajkot district collector Prabhav Joshi toldThe Indian Expressthat as the amusem*nt park was set up under a shed, a lot of air-conditioners were mounted there. “However, due to the hot weather, the electric wiring might not have been able to handle the load, leading to the short-circuit which could have sparked the fire,” said Joshi.

Rajkot mayor Nayna Pedhadiya said that the gaming zone, which was a two-storey tin shed, did not have a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire department of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation.

“We will investigate how such a big game zone was functioning without a fire NOC and we are witnessing the consequences of it. No politics will be allowed over this issue. This is no small incident,” Pedhadiya told media persons after she arrived at the site of the accident to oversee the search and rescue operation.

A senior police officer in an interview with The Indian Express, said, 'Two persons--Nitin Jain and Yuvrajsinh Solanki--were detained while search was on for a third person. Nitin Jain is the manager of the gaming zone and Yuvrajsinh Solanki is sort of a co-owner of the gaming zone. He is the one who had taken on rent the plot of land on which the gaming zone had been set up. These two have been detained.

He added, 'We are also looking for Prakash Jain, another person associated with this gaming zone. As per primary information, he was inside the premises when the fire broke out.'

Gujarat Congress chief and Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil on Saturday questioned the BJP government’s negligence and lack of accountability and responsibility towards ensuring people’s safety in a video statement following the incident.

Gohil said, “It is sad that despite multiple such incidents, the government has not sat up. Children have been burned to ashes, it is being said they cannot be identified, they will require to be identified with DNA testing. Be it Morbi bridge, Palanpur bridge, boat capsizing in Vadodara, fire in a Surat building -- if this can’t be called negligence then what can be? BJP has 156 seats (in Gujarat assembly), are they not accountable? The High Court has repeatedly told the government to make complete arrangements for fire safety. No amount of compensation can bring back a person. What is the administration doing? BJP is in the corporation, in the state, in the Centre, so is it not their responsibility?”

President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives at a gaming zone in Gujarat's Rajkot which killed several people including children. In a post on X, Murmu said, "I am deeply anguished to learn of the loss of lives in a fire accident at a gaming zone in Rajkot, Gujarat. My heart goes out to the families who have lost their near and dear ones including young children. I pray to the Almighty for the speedy recovery of those being rescued."

Reacting to the incident Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said in a post X, he said, "Deeply pained by the loss of lives in the tragic fire incident in Rajkot. I express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, and pray for speedy recovery of the injured."

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in a post on X said, "The state government will provide Rs 4 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50 thousand to the injured. In this regard, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed and assigned to investigate the entire incident."

Earlier, he said, "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 been instructed to prioritise arrangements for immediate treatment of the injured."

VIDEO | Firefighters douse a fire that broke out at Gaming Zone in Rajkot, Gujarat. More details awaited.

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC) pic.twitter.com/zUQpKMtrg2

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 25, 2024

#WATCH | At least 8 killed in massive Rajkot game zone fire; rescue operations underway

For more, follow live updates: https://t.co/BJgPjgBmZo pic.twitter.com/E7FgfBiexC

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) May 25, 2024

Fire officer IV Kher said in an interview with ANI news agency, "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 structure has collapsed and due to wind velocity..."

#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

Fire official RA Joban said, "We are unable to provide the exact number of casualties at this time. Our teams are working to recover bodies from both sides of the incident. The search operation is currently ongoing."

#WATCH Rajkot, Gujarat: On fire incident at TRP game zone, Fire Station Officer RA Joban says, " We cannot say anything about the exact number... We are bringing down bodies from both sides... The search operation is underway..." pic.twitter.com/SRdFAzlfCn

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2024