Gujarat HC takes suo motu cognizance in Rajkot game zone fire which killed 9 children among 33 others

Gujarat High Court on May 26 took a suo motu cognizance in the tragic fire incident at a game zone in Rajkot on May 25 which killed 33 people, including 9 children.

Reportedly, the fire at TRP game zone was caused when some welding work was being carried out, The Hindu reported.

According to a report by The Indian Express, 25 victims have been identified so far, out of which at least four are children under the age of 12. 

An FIR has been lodged against six persons under IPC sections 304 (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide), 336 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 114 (Abettor present when offense is committed).

As per the FIR, the accused persons endangered lives of people by not having a proper NOC and firefighting equipment in an almost two-story height structure made of metal sheet fabrication to create a game zone.

The officials said the amusement center which was packed with visitors on account of a weekend discount that had tickets priced at just ₹ 99 had just one exit and was operating without a no-objection certificate (NOC) for fire clearance from the Rajkot Municipal Corporation. 

The bench of Justices Biren Vaishnav and Devan Desai of the Gujarat HC called the incident to be prima facie a "man-made disaster", while observing that such gaming zones and recreational facilities have come up across the state without the necessary approvals from competent authorities.

The bench directed advocates of the Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot municipal corporations to appear before it on May 27 with instructions as to under what provisions of law the authorities led these units to be set up or continue to operate under their jurisdiction, reported The Economic Times.

Meanwhile, a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) setup by the state government will submit a preliminary report of the incident within three days.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also visited the incident site at Nana-Mava road on Sunday morning and a hospital where the injured persons were admitted.