Rajkot fire: Six officials, including two policemen, suspended for negligence

The Gujarat government on Monday ordered the suspension of six officials in connection with the fire at a gaming arcade in Rajkot that killed 33 persons, reported PTI.

Four of those who have been suspended are civic officers, while two are police inspectors.

The government said in a press release that the officials were found responsible for “gross negligence in allowing this game zone to operate without necessary approvals”.

“The game zone had received permissions from the roads and buildings department,” Rajkot Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava told reporters on Sunday. “It had also submitted a proof of fire safety equipment to obtain the fire no objection certificate which was under process and not yet completed.”

Suspension orders have been issued for Jaideep Chaudhary, an assistant engineer in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation’s town planning department, along with assistant town planner Gautam Joshi, two deputy executive engineers – MR Suma and Paras Kothiya – in the municipality’s roads and buildings department and two police inspectors, VR Patel and NI Rathod.

The fire broke out on Saturday evening at a temporary structure at the TRP Game Zone in Rajkot. While locals said that the blaze spread quickly following a short circuit in an air conditioner, officials said a more detailed investigation was required.

The police have arrested the owner...

Read more