Rajkot/IBNS: The Gujarat High Court on Monday rapped the state government and local body over their lapses after a fire at a gaming zone in Rajkot killed 28 people, media reports said.
The court ripped apart the local body and state government, both ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), over the operation of the two gaming zones for about 2 years each without required permits.
The high court stated as quoted by NDTV, This has been going on for two-and-a-half years (referring to the Rajkot gaming zone). Are we to assume you turned a blind eye? What do you and your followers do?
The court came down heavily upon the government after a few Rajkot municipal body officers were seen at the gaming stations.
Who were these officers? Did they go there to play? the court said.
In a fiery remark, it added, Have you gone blind? Did you fall asleep? Now we do not trust the local system and the state.
The gaming zone, called TRP, was packed with visitors due to a weekend discount offer with tickets priced at just Rs. 99 when the fire broke out.
It is suspected that the fire might have started due to a short circuit, but officials said that the exact cause will be known only after a probe.
The intensity of the fire was such that smoke was visible from several kilometers away. The bodies were charred beyond recognition, officials said. The DNA samples of the bodies and the victims relatives have been collected for identification.
The owner and manager of the TRP game zone, where the fire broke out on Saturday evening, have been detained.
