May 27th 2024.
In Ahmedabad, the government of Gujarat has taken swift action following the tragic fire at the Rajkot game zone which resulted in the loss of 27 lives. On Monday, five officials, including two police inspectors and civic staff, were suspended for their negligence in allowing the game zone to operate without necessary approvals.
According to a government release, these officials have been held accountable for their gross negligence in not ensuring that the game zone had the required fire NOC. It has been revealed that the facility was operating without the fire NOC, despite having received permissions from the roads and buildings department. The Rajkot Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava informed reporters on Sunday that the game zone had submitted proof of fire safety equipment, but the fire NOC was still in the process of being obtained.
The decision to suspend these officials came after Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel personally visited the site of the fire and instructed concerned departments to take strict and punitive action against those responsible for the incident. The five officials who have been suspended are Jaideep Chaudhary, assistant engineer of Rajkot Municipal Corporation's town planning department, Gautam Joshi, assistant town planner for RMC, MR Suma, deputy executive engineer of Rajkot Roads and Buildings department, and police inspectors VR Patel and NI Rathod, as per the orders passed by their respective departments.
The fire, which broke out at the TRP game zone in Nana-Mava locality of Rajkot on Saturday evening, claimed the lives of 27 people, including children. The police have arrested two individuals and filed an FIR against six partners of the game zone and another accused on various charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The Gujarat High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the fire tragedy, terming it a man-made disaster. The court has noted that highly inflammable materials, such as petrol, fibres, and fibreglass sheets, were stored at the facility. In response, the state government has formed a Special Investigation Team to look into the matter and has announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of each deceased person. The central government has also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased person.
The tragedy at the Rajkot game zone has raised questions about the safety measures in place at such establishments. The government has assured that strict action will be taken against those responsible and that measures will be taken to ensure the safety of citizens in the future. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims during this difficult time.
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