On Monday Gujarat Government suspended six officials including two cops in a big action against the authorities over serious lapses in the TRP Gamezone fire accident that killed 35 persons including children.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the Rajkot fire incident site on Sunday and held late night review meeting. He directed the officials to take strict action against those responsible for negligence and carelessness in allowing operations at Rajkot Gamezone without necessary approval of fire protocols.
Among those suspended are Assistant Town Planning Officer Gautam Joshi, Assistant Engineer Jaideep Chaudhary, Deputy Executive Engineer MR Surma, Rajkot Taluka Police Station Incharge VR Patel and Fire License Department Inspector NI Rathore.
The Chief Fire Officer said, ‘The initial investigation in the Rajkot tragedy revealed that even though the fire equipment was present at the mall and in the gaming zone, it was not in working condition’.
Moreover, no Fire NOC (No Objection Certificate) was obtained for the fire-fighting and safety conditions. The fire safety protocol was not followed at the mall and gaming zone, added the Chief Fire Officer.
The gaming zone, a temporary structure built as a tin shed, was an illegal operation. There was no clear fire escape plan. The District Collector said that a majority of the victims of the TRP Mall Gaming Zone Fire in Rajkot were children.
On Sunday the Gujarat High Court took suo motu cognisance of the fire tragedy, terming it a prima facie man-made disaster. The bench noted a stock of highly inflammable materials such as petrol, fibres and fibreglass sheets were stored at the facility.
Gujarat police fired an FIR against six partners of TRP Game Zone in Rajkot for homicide not amounting to murder and arrested two of them including an owner partner of the Gamezone and its manager on Sunday.
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