5 officials suspended for negligence

The Gujarat state government on Monday ordered the immediate suspension of five officials, including two police inspectors and municipal employees, for negligence in connection with the Rajkot wildlife brigade fire that killed 27 people.

The officials were “held responsible for their gross negligence because they allowed the operation of this gaming zone without the necessary permits,” the government said in a statement.

In particular, it has emerged that the facility where the fire broke out on Saturday was operating without a fire safety certificate (NOC, No Objection Certificate).

“The gaming area has received approvals from the Roads and Buildings Authority. Proof of fire safety equipment has also been submitted to obtain the fire safety NOC, which is still under process and not finalized,” Rajkot Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava told reporters on Sunday.

The government’s decision to suspend five officials came a day after Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inspected the site where the fire broke out on Saturday and directed the departments concerned to take strict and punitive action against those responsible for the serious incident.

The following persons were suspended as per the orders of their respective offices: Deputy Engineer, Town Planning Department, Rajkot Municipal Corporation, Jaideep Chaudhary, Deputy Town Planner, RMC, Gautam Joshi, Deputy Executive Engineer, Roads and Buildings Department, Rajkot, MR Suma, and Police Inspectors VR Patel and NI Rathod.

The fire in the TRP wildlife area in Nana-Mava village in Rajkot on Saturday evening killed 27 people, including children.

Police have arrested two people and filed a complaint against six partners of the gaming zone and another accused. He is facing various charges, including intentional homicide not amounting to murder, officials said earlier.

The Supreme Court of the state of Gujarat took cognizance of the fire tragedy on Sunday and described it at first glance as a “man-made disaster”.

The HC found that a stockpile of highly flammable materials such as petrol, fibres and fibreglass sheets was stored at the facility.

The state government has formed a special investigation team and also announced an ex-gratia donation of Rs 400,000 to the relatives of all the deceased.

The Central Government has also announced that it will provide a gratia of Rs 200,000 to the next of kin of every deceased person.