SIT Report Exposes Negligence Leading to Rajkot Game Zone Fire Tragedy

AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT : The Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed to investigate the devastating fire at Rajkot’s TRP Game Zone, which claimed 28 lives, has submitted its preliminary report to the state government. The report highlights severe lapses by multiple Rajkot authorities, terming the incident a “man-made disaster” as stated by the Gujarat High Court.

The SIT report points out that the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) failed to conduct any inspections of the TRP Game Zone during its three years of operation. The business operators did not seek permission for the temporary construction of the dome that ultimately caught fire. Shockingly, a permanent concrete structure was erected under the guise of a temporary setup, violating regulations that do not permit temporary structures to be made permanent.

A particularly distressing revelation in the report is that the game zone had only one ladder providing access to the first floor. This ladder collapsed during the fire, trapping and resulting in the deaths of individuals on the first floor who were unable to escape.

The SIT also criticized the local police system. Rajkot PSI NI Rathore and VR Patel were found negligent in issuing licenses to game zones without proper building inspections. The oversight extended to the Road and Building Department, where officials allowed commercial activity on non-agricultural land and failed to investigate the structure properly. Furthermore, the local fire officer never visited the game zone site, indicating a complete breakdown in protocol and safety measures.

The SIT’s findings expose widespread negligence across the RMC, police department, fire department, and road and building department. The lack of coordination and adherence to safety protocols directly contributed to the tragic loss of lives.

In light of these revelations, the focus now shifts to the state government’s response to the SIT report. There is an urgent call for accountability and systemic reform to prevent such disasters in the future. The public and the victims’ families demand justice and assurance that stringent measures will be implemented to uphold safety standards and regulatory compliance.

The Gujarat High Court’s characterization of the tragedy as a “man-made disaster” highlights the gravity of the authorities’ failures. The state government is expected to take decisive action based on the SIT’s findings to address the lapses and ensure that similar incidents do not recur.