Rajkot gaming arcade fire: a tragedy foretold
The Hindu
Tragic fire at unlicensed gaming centre in Rajkot kills 27, exposes corruption in civic bodies, sparking public outrage.
“I have nothing to lose now. Those responsible for the tragedy must get capital punishment. Till they are sentenced to death, no one should get bail,” said Pradipsinh Chauhan, who lost his son, Rajbha, 12, and four relatives, including his brother Virendrasinh Jadeja, 42, in a massive fire that gutted TRP Game Zone, an indoor gaming centre in Gujarat’s Rajkot on May 25.
The outing on a Saturday had turned tragic for several families as 27 people were charred to death at the gaming zone that operated without valid licences and a no-objection certificate from the local civic body’s fire department.
Recounting the tragedy, Jadeja’s daughter Devikaba said she was sitting with her family members at a restaurant near the multi-level gaming arcade around 5.30 p.m., when they heard a loud blast and saw smoke billowing from the dome of the recreation centre.
“My father and maternal uncle rushed in as my brother Dharamraj, 15, and some relatives were playing on a trampoline on the upper floor of the game zone. Soon, a few more blasts occurred, and nobody could come out. My father, brother, and three relatives died, and I couldn’t even see their faces,” said Devikaba.
The State government established the identity of 27 victims through DNA tests of the charred bodies and handed them over to their kin. According to sources, over 150 people were inside the arcade when the fire broke out. On the weekend, the owners had reduced the entry fee to ₹99 per person, attracting more people from Rajkot and its neighbouring areas.
Witnesses and relatives of the victims said there were no firefighting equipment and emergency exits, raising serious questions about the role of local authorities who allowed the gaming zone to function without conducting any checks. Inflammable material, including diesel to run generators and gas cylinders for the various rides, were reportedly present on the premises.
According to the FIR, no proper fire safety mechanism was in place in the two-storey building, which was a 50-metre-wide and 60-metre-long temporary steel structure with tin roofs spread across a 2,000 square metre plot. It added that there were many AC units and compressors installed on the walls, and electrical wiring at the amusement park.
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