Children Among 25 Killed In Rajkot Gaming Zone Fire; PM Modi, Shah Speak To Gujarat CM

At least twenty people were killed after a massive fire broke out at a gaming zone in Gujarat’s Rajkot city on Saturday evening.

Speaking to the media, Rajkot Police Commissioner Raju Bhargav said, “Fire broke out in the TRP gaming zone in the afternoon. The rescue operations are on. The fire is under control. We are trying to retrieve as many bodies as possible.”

He further said that as of now around 20 bodies have been recovered and they have been sent to the hospital for further investigation.

“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,” Bhargav added.

PM Modi, Gujarat CM Patel Express Concern

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X and expressed his distress on the unfortunate incident. Taking to his official account, he said, “Extremely distressed by the fire mishap in Rajkot. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for the injured. The local administration is working to provide all possible assistance to those affected.”

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel took to X and said that the city administration has been instructed to carry out immediate rescue and relief operations at the game zone.

“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,” Patel wrote on X.

In a separate post, CM Patel also expressed his condolences and wrote, “The fire tragedy in Rajkot is heart-wrenching. I express my heartfelt condolences to the persons who lost their lives in this incident and their families. I pray to God for speedy recovery of the injured. The state government will provide Rs 4 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50 thousand to the injured.”

“It is very important to ensure that such an incident does not happen again. Any kind of negligence will not be entertained in this event. In this regard, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed and assigned to investigate the entire incident,” he added.

Speaking on the incident, Fire Station Officer RA Joban said, ” We cannot say anything about the exact number… We are bringing down bodies from both sides… The search operation is underway.”

Efforts are still underway to control the blaze and rescue those trapped inside.

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