CCTV footage of the fire blazing through the Rajkot gaming centre that killed 27 people, including four children, has emerged. The video showed a spark originating from welding work that was underway on the gaming zone’s first floor. According to reports, the spark landed on a pile of plywood and wooden sheets, triggering the blaze.
The clip further showed prompt workers jumping to douse the flames using extinguishers. But due to a lack of a fire safety system, the fire engulfed the entire floor.
Meanwhile, the Gujarat government on Monday ordered the suspension of five officials, including two police inspectors and civic staff, with immediate effect for negligence in connection with the Rajkot game zone fire.
The officials have been held responsible "for their gross negligence in allowing this game zone to operate without necessary approvals," stated a government release.
Notably, it has emerged the facility, 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 five 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.
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 engineer MR Suma, and police inspectors VR Patel and NI Rathod, as per orders passed by the respective departments.
The fire at the TRP game zone in 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.