Rajkot game zone mishap: 35 killed including 12 children; SIT to probe
A probe into the TRP game zone tragedy in Gujarat‘s Rajkot has revealed that the incident happened due to its management’s negligence.
The fire mishap claimed 35 lives including 12 children.
The fire broke out inside the gaming zone in a shopping mall when it was teeming with children. The shopping mall was inundated with crowds because of the weekend. The intensity of the fire was so fierce that smoke was seen billowing from the shopping mall from a long distance.
The investigations revealed that the TRP game zone had been operating illegally in a residential area for four years without the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC).
The amusement park was set up in a flimsy shed-like structure to bypass regulatory approvals, the sources said. It was found that the game zone managers had expanded the facility to three floors by obtaining a ride certificate.
The sources added that they secured permission from the police for the amusement park and sought approval for rides from the mechanical branch, sidestepping comprehensive safety evaluations.
Despite this, the facility continued to attract visitors, oblivious to the lurking dangers.
The Road and Building Department officials are untraceable, and the officers responsible for issuing the stability certificate are missing.
Rajkot Additional Collector Chetan Gandhi did not respond to the media, while Executive Engineer of the Mechanical Department C C Patel has disappeared and is not responding to calls.
Questions have been raised about the management and safety protocols at the Gamezone. Reports indicate that 2,000 litres of petrol were stored on-site, ongoing welding activities, and numerous tyres were kept, all without a proper fire No Objection Certificate (NOC).
The state government and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) have pledged thorough investigations and justice for the victims.
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Each and everyone who’s responsible for this terrible tragedy should be punished severely. Hope Gujarat government will take sincere efforts in punishing the culprits.
We love rules & have laws, but none to implement. We lose life on our own mistakes, which should shame the govt & enforcement agencies for there is no education to general public nor any safety induction.