A tragic incident occurred on Saturday evening in Rajkot, Gujarat, Western India, where a fire broke out at an indoor amusement park, resulting in at least 27 deaths, including 9 children. The death toll is still rising, with Prime Minister Modi expressing his condolences for the victims.
Reports from multiple media outlets indicate that the site of the accident was a two-story makeshift building covered with tin sheets, housing amusement facilities such as bowling alleys, go-karts, and trampolines. The fire occurred during a summer weekend when over 300 people were present.
Eyewitnesses at the scene mentioned that the fire erupted following an explosion of an air conditioning unit, quickly engulfing the entire amusement park in thick smoke. Many people were trapped due to the collapse of a temporary structure near the exit, making it difficult for them to escape the blaze promptly.
It took firefighters nearly an hour to extinguish the large fire, and around a dozen ambulances transported the injured to hospitals. Firefighters are currently clearing the collapsed tin building and debris in the surrounding area.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, with fire officials suspecting a short circuit as the possible trigger. A part of the gaming area was under renovation, and two days earlier, the park had been closed due to a short circuit. Nonetheless, it reopened on the same day as the incident.
Local authorities mentioned that some bodies were charred beyond recognition, and DNA testing will be utilized for identification purposes.
Police Chief Raju Bhargava stated that the fire has been brought under control, rescue operations are ongoing, and a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire will follow once the rescue mission is completed. He also mentioned that notices to suspend operations have been issued to all amusement facilities in the city.
Three individuals, including the owner and manager of the amusement park, have been detained by the police, and negligence charges will be pressed against them. The case has been handed over to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) composed of five officials.
Rajkot Mayor Nayna Pedhadiya noted that the amusement park was a two-story tin shed that did not possess a No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the Rajkot Municipal Corporation Fire Department.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced that 40,000 rupees (approximately $480) of compensation will be provided to the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees (about $600) to the injured from the incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on social media platform X, stating that the local government is striving to provide assistance to the affected individuals, expressing his deep sorrow over the fire. He said, “I stand with all those who have lost their loved ones. Praying for the injured.”