A tragic incident took place at a crowded amusement park arcade in India on Saturday, resulting in the loss of at least 16 lives, many of whom were children, according to officials.
Videos shared on social media, whose authenticity AFP was unable to immediately verify, depicted a raging fire engulfing a structure, with thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
Prabhav Joshi, the district collector of Rajkot in India’s western state of Gujarat, confirmed to AFP that 16 individuals had perished in the fire, with nine others hospitalized. He mentioned that rescue efforts were ongoing, raising the possibility of the death toll increasing further.
While some news outlets reported the number of fatalities as potentially reaching 24, it was disclosed that over 300 people were present in the two-story building at TRP amusement and theme park when the fire erupted during a busy summer holiday weekend, as stated by Rajkot fire officer Ilesh Kher.
The situation became dire as individuals became trapped following a collapse of a temporary structure near the entrance, hindering their escape, Kher explained, attributing the rapid spread of the flames to the combustible materials present.
Photographs captured at the scene showcased the aftermath of the fire, revealing a largely destroyed corrugated metal structure.
Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, witnessed this tragic incident, prompting a heartfelt message from him expressing his distress over the mishap and offering condolences to those affected.
It was a challenging task for firefighters, as it took nearly an hour to extinguish the blaze, with multiple ambulances rushing the injured to medical facilities for urgent treatment.
Authorities suspect a short circuit as the likely cause of the fire, with difficulties in identifying the deceased due to the extensive burns on their bodies, as reported by police on site.
Images gleaned from what appears to be the facility’s Instagram account depicted a vibrant entertainment center bustling with activity, including teenagers engaged in various games and recreational pursuits.
India has a history of fire-related incidents attributed to substandard construction practices, overcrowding, and a lack of adherence to safety protocols.
Similar unfortunate events have occurred in the past, such as a fire at a paint factory in New Delhi in February that claimed 11 lives, as well as a massive blaze in a commercial building in the city in 2022 that resulted in the deaths of at least 27 individuals and numerous injuries.
In 2016, a tragic explosion during a prohibited fireworks display in Kerala claimed the lives of over 100 people, underscoring the need for stringent safety measures and enhanced regulatory enforcement to prevent such devastating incidents in the future.
