Following the tragic fire at TRP Game Zone in Rajkot, which claimed the lives of at least 27 people, the Gujarat High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the incident on Sunday.
The Incident
The gaming zone in Rajkot, Gujarat, where a devastating fire killed more than 20 people on Saturday, lacked a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire department, officials said. According to available information, the gaming zone had only one route used as both entry and exit. Additionally, thousands of liters of petrol and diesel were stored in various pockets of the zone, which caused the fire to spread rapidly and resulted in the entire structure burning down.
So far, 27 people, including nine children, have been confirmed dead. The bodies were charred beyond recognition, and DNA samples of the victims and their relatives have been collected for identification, according to members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident, including the owner and manager of the gaming zone. Those taken into custody are Nitin Jain, the manager of the TRP Game Zone, and Yuvraj Singh Solanki, the owner.
High Court’s Swift Action
Acknowledging the Rajkot gaming zone fire incident as a “man-made disaster,” a special bench of the Gujarat High Court took suo motu cognizance of the case on Sunday. The bench issued notices to the state government and municipal corporations, seeking information on the provisions under which these gaming zones are operating.
Citing reports, the bench noted that to bypass obstacles in obtaining permissions such as no objection certificates (NOCs) for fire safety and construction, among others, owners often resort to using temporary structures to operate these recreational activities. The issue is scheduled to be heard in the Gujarat High Court on Monday, May 27.
