28 killed in massive fire at gaming zone in Rajkot; Welding and petrol-diesel stockpile blamed for tragedy

Rajkot (Gujarat): At least 28 people were killed after a massive fire broke out in a game zone in Rajkot taluka of Gujarat on Saturday, police said.

The Chief Fire officer said that as soon as fire was reported in the TRP game zone Saturday evening, fire-fighters along with eight fire engines reached the spot.

It took nearly an hour to extinguish the fire, with around a dozen ambulances carrying the injured to the hospital, according to officials.

More than 300 people were in the three-story structure at the TRP game zone when the fire erupted as it was a summer holiday weekend and the entry fees was reduced to Rs 99, as per reports.

"People got trapped as a temporary structure at the facility collapsed near the entrance, making it difficult for the people to come out," official said.

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Rajkot mayor Nayna Pedhadiya said that the administration will launch an investigation as to how such a big gaming zone was functioning without proper licencing.

Initial police probe indicates that welding work being conducted on a shed within the Game Zone may have triggered the fire. Sparks from the welding operation are suspected to have ignited the blaze.

The game zone had accumulated over 2000 litres of diesel and 1500 litres of petrol to run generators and go-karting, making it a fire hazard, according to reports.

The Rajkot Crime Branch has detained 10 individuals in connection with the incident. Among those detained are the owner of the Gamezone, Yuvraj Singh Solanki, and two managers, Yagnesh Pathak and Nitin Jain.

The state government has, meanwhile, assigned the probe to a Special Investigation Team.