Rajkot fire tragedy leaves over 22 charred to death; Opposition slams ‘callous govt’

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Rajkot fire tragedy in gaming zone leaves 22 dead

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi, May 25: A raging fire in a game zone in a temporary structure in a mall in Rajkot has left over 20 children charred to death. Local reports claimed that the raging fire gutted a temporary structure in a mall while another 20 people are feared trapped.

20 Dead In Massive Fire At Gaming Zone In Gujarat’s Rajkot, Rescue Ops On

“A fire broke out at the TRP gaming zone. There is information of some casualties,” Rajkot Police Commissioner, Raju Bhargav, told local reporters.

Another report claimed that 24 people lost their lives in the raging fire. Also, it is feared that 50-60 people are still trapped in the TRP gaming zone in Rajkot. The police have arrested the owner of the gaming zone.

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The deceased included the people from Gondola, Upleta, and Rajkot areas of Gujarat. “The fire tragedy in Rajkot has saddened us all. In my telephone conversation with him a short while ago, Gujarat CM Bhupendrabhai Patel told me about the efforts underway to ensure all possible assistance is provided to those who have been affected,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted in on X, formerly Twitter.

“Around 4.15 pm, the control room received a call about a fire in Game Zone. Immediately, fire brigades and ambulances were sent to the site,” Rajkot Collector Prabhav Joshi told PTI. He added: “Smoke is still coming out from the building, while 16 deaths have been confirmed till now.”

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In a similar incident in May in 2019, 22 students were killed after a fired gutted down a coaching institute in Surat in Gujarat. The Morbi bridge collapse in 2022 in Gujarat had also left 141 people dead.

Gujarat Congress chief Shaktisinh Gohil hit out at the state government, accusing callousness in Gujarat amid repeated occurrences of incidents. “Several people were charred to death,” said Gohil, while adding that “it is going to be difficult to conduct the DNA test”.

The Congress leader asked, what is happening in Gujarat? “These kinds of incidents regularly happen in Gujarat, but the government is not worried,” accused Gohil.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock at the Rajkot fire incident. “Shocked to know about the devastating fire at Rajkot, Gujarat, resulting in tragic loss of several lives. The fire at the game zone has reportedly trapped many others which is also unnerving,” said Banerjee.

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