Fire in India kills at least 24, mostly children (municipality)

At least 24 people were killed. killed, mainly children, in a fire that started Saturday in an amusement park in western India, announcedé a local manager.

In addition, nine people were hospitalized, added Prabhav Joshi, responsible for the Rajkot municipality in the state of Gujarat, specifying that the toll was likely to rise.

“Police arrested four people linked to the game room for questioning,” he added. “We are trying to find out more from the owners of the establishment.”

More than 300 people were in a room of a two-story structure at the TRP amusement park when the fire broke out this weekend end of summer vacation, Rajkot fire officer Ilesh Kher told reporters.

Rescue workers carry a victim after a fire broke out at an amusement park in Rajkot, western India, on May 25, 2024. © AFP – –

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“People were trapped by the collapse of a temporary structure near the entrance, which made evacuation difficult,” he added. In addition, the spread of the fire was facilitated by the nature of the materials, which were very flammable.

Photos taken on site show a corrugated iron structure, largely collapsed. It took almost an hour to put out the flames.

On social networks, images (which AFP does not currently have been able to authenticate) show flames devouring the structure and causing a large plume of black smoke to rise into the sky.

Firefighters said a short circuit was suspected of causing the disaster.

Gujarat is the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who posted on X: “Extremely distressed by the fire in Rajkot. My thoughts go to all who have lost loved ones. Prayers for the injured.”

Photos posted on the establishment's Instagram account show that it included a bowling alley. , a go-kart track and trampolines.

Fires are common in India due to the poor condition of buildings, overcrowding and lack of compliance with safety regulations.

In February, eleven people lost their lives in a fire that ravaged a paint factory in the capital New Delhi.

In 2022, At least 27 people died and dozens more were injured after a massive fire broke out at a four-story commercial building in the city.

In 2016, more than a hundred people were killed after a massive fireworks explosion in the southern state of Kerala.

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