4 children among 27 dead in fire at amusement park in India

Four young children were among the 27 people killed in a fire at a crowded amusement park in India, police said as rescue workers searched the site after the blaze on Sunday morning.

Survivors said they had to kick in doors and jump out windows to escape the inferno that swept through a center full of young people who were playing bowling, among other activities, Indian media reported on Sunday.

Rows of bodies wrapped in white sheets were laid out before being taken away from the centre in Rajkot, a city in the western state of Gujarat.

The four dead children were all under the age of 12, police said, pointing out that many of the bodies had such severe burns that their identification was difficult.

More than 300 people were spending the summer holiday weekend in the two-storey building of the TRP amusement and theme park when the fire broke out on Saturday evening, Rajkot fire officer Ilesh Kher told reporters on the night of the blaze.

“People were trapped when a makeshift structure at the facility collapsed near the entrance, making it difficult for people to get out,” he said.

Due to the flammable material of the building, the flames spread quickly, he added.

“We have confirmed the deaths of 27 people in the fire,” senior police officer Radhika Bharai told reporters overnight, updating the previously reported toll of 24.

“The bodies are charred beyond recognition, making it difficult to identify them.”

Other officials warned that the number of victims could rise further.

Survivors recalled their horror as they tried to escape the fire.

“We were bowling when two staff members told us there was a fire on the ground floor and we should leave. The area was soon filled with smoke,” Pruthvirajsinh Jadeja told The Indian Express newspaper.

“We tried to escape through the back door, but we didn’t succeed. I saw a beam of light coming from outside. I kicked down the sheet metal and five of us managed to jump from the first floor.”

Jadeja added that at least 70 people, including children, were on the first floor when the fire broke out.

An Instagram page that appears to belong to the entertainment facility advertises it as an amusement and theme park offering activities such as trampoline jumping, go-karting, bowling and paintball.

According to official sources, at least four people were detained for questioning.

Gujarat is the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said in a social media post that he was “extremely shocked by the fire.”

Fires are common in India due to poor construction practices, overcrowding and lack of safety regulations.