Recently released CCTV footage has revealed that sparks from welding work were the likely cause of the catastrophic fire at the Rajkot game zone, which claimed over 25 lives, including those of 9 children. The video shows sparks from welding falling onto a stack of wooden planks, leading to a massive blaze.
The footage captures welding activity on the ceiling of an area within the game zone. Sparks from the welding process fell onto stacks of wooden planks below. Within minutes, smoke began to emanate from a corner before rapidly escalating into a large fire.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, May 25, resulting in the complete destruction of the game zone. The victims’ bodies were charred beyond recognition, necessitating the collection of DNA samples from the deceased and their relatives for identification purposes.
3 individuals, including the owner and manager of the TRP game zone, have been arrested. Rajkot Police have charged 6 people with culpable homicide not amounting to murder under IPC Sections 304, 308, 337, 338, and 114. Four suspects named in the FIR are currently at large, with the crime branch forming four teams to apprehend them.
Authorities disclosed that the game zone lacked a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire department. The facility had only one route serving as both an entry and exit point. Additionally, thousands of liters of diesel and petrol were stored in various parts of the game zone, contributing to the rapid spread of the fire due to the presence of these inflammable substances.
Although the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, the Rajkot District Magistrate indicated that electrical issues might have been a factor. Ongoing investigations aim to determine the precise cause of the devastating blaze.
