Gujarat: Two cops among 6 suspended for Rajkot game zone fire

They have been held responsible for their "gross negligence in allowing the game zone to operate without necessary approvals"

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government on Monday ordered the suspension of six officials in connection with the Rajkot game zone fire that claimed 27 lives. The officials have been held responsible for their “gross negligence in allowing the game zone to operate without necessary approvals,” a government release stated.

Those who have been suspended are Rajkot Municipal Corporation’s town planning department assistant engineer Jaideep Chaudhary, assistant town planner for RMC Gautam Joshi, Rajkot Roads and Buildings department’s deputy executive engineers MR Suma and Paras Kothiya, and police inspectors VR Patel and NI Rathod, as per orders passed by the respective departments.

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Notably, the game zone, where the blaze erupted on Saturday, was operated without the fire NOC (no objection certificate). “The game zone had received permissions from the roads and buildings department. It had also submitted a proof of fire safety equipment to obtain the fire NOC, which was under process and not yet completed,” Rajkot Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava told reporters on Sunday.

The government’s action of suspending six officials comes a day after Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inspected the site where the fire erupted on Saturday and instructed the departments concerned to take strict and punitive action against those responsible for such a serious incident. The fire at the TRP game zone in the Nana-Mava locality of Rajkot on Saturday evening killed 27 persons, including children.

The police have arrested two persons and registered an FIR against six partners of the game zone and another accused on various charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, officials earlier said. The Gujarat High Court on Sunday took suo motu cognisance of the fire tragedy, terming it a prima facie “man-made disaster”.

The HC noted that a stock of highly inflammable materials such as petrol, fibres and fibreglass sheets were stored at the facility. The State government has formed a special investigation team and announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of each deceased. The Central government has also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased person.