Rajkot: A massive fire broke out at a gaming zone in Rajkot, Gujarat, on Saturday evening, claiming the lives of 20 people, officials said. A relief and rescue operation is currently underway.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief at the loss of lives in the Rajkot fire tragedy.
“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,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
20 Dead In Massive Fire At Gaming Zone In #Gujarat‘s Rajkot; Rescue Operation Underway pic.twitter.com/z1j9OimQyG
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“The fire tragedy in Rajkot has saddened us all. In my telephone conversation with him a short while ago, Gujarat CM Bhupendrabhai Patel Ji told me about the efforts underway to ensure all possible assistance is provided to those who have been affected,” PM Modi added.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has instructed officials to prioritize arrangements for the immediate treatment of the injured. “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 also instructed to prioritize arrangements for immediate treatment of the injured,” Patel said.
Rajkot Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava provided an update on the situation. “The rescue operations are on. The fire is under control. We are trying to retrieve as many bodies as possible. As of now, around 20 bodies have been recovered and they have been sent to the hospital for further investigation. Investigations will be carried out. 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,” Bhargava said.
The cause of the fire is still unknown. “I cannot ascertain the reason behind the fire. It’s a matter of investigation. Rescue operations are underway and several fire engines have been deployed. We will speak to fire brigade officials to discuss what action should be taken,” Bhargava added.
A fire officer told ANI, “The reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained. The attempts to douse the fire are underway. We have not received any message of missing persons. We are facing difficulty in the firefighting operation because the temporary structure has collapsed and due to wind velocity.”
“We will then be able to find out the exact number of casualties inside the zone (after the fire is controlled). We will also investigate the cause of the fire, and a message has been issued to all the gaming zones in the city to shut down,” he said.
The rescue efforts continue as authorities work to manage the aftermath of this tragic incident.
