Rescue workers remove victims from a fire at an amusement park in Rajkot, Gujarat, India, on May 25, 2024. (AFP)
- More than 300 people were inside the two-storey amusement and theme park in India when the fire broke out.
- Sixteen people were reportedly killed and nine hospitalized in the fire.
- It took nearly an hour to put out the fire and about 12 ambulances rushed the injured to hospital.
A fire broke out at a packed arcade at an amusement park in India on Saturday, killing at least 16 people, most of them children, authorities said.
Footage posted on social media, which AFP could not immediately verify, showed raging flames engulfing the building and plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky.
Prababu Joshi, district commissioner of Rajkot in the western state of Gujarat, told AFP that 16 people had been killed and nine hospitalised in the fire.
He added that rescue efforts were continuing and the death toll could rise.
Some media reports put the death toll at 24.
Rajkot fire officer Ilesh Kale told reporters that more than 300 people were inside the two-storey building at TRP Amusement and Theme Park when the fire broke out over a summer holiday weekend.
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“A temporary structure near the entrance to the facility collapsed, trapping people and making it difficult for them to escape,” he said.
The blaze spread quickly due to flammable materials, he added.
Photos from the scene showed the corrugated metal structure nearly destroyed.
Gujarat is the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who posted on X, “Deeply saddened by the fire in Rajkot. My thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones. Prayers for those injured.”
It took nearly an hour to put out the fire and about 12 ambulances rushed the injured to hospital.
Fire officials said the cause was suspected to be a short circuit, while police at the scene said the bodies of the deceased were so badly burnt that they were difficult to identify.
Photos from an Instagram account that appears to belong to the facility show a bustling games and recreation center, with teenagers enjoying activities like bowling, go-karting, and trampolines.
The tragedy of the Rajkot fire has saddened us all. Speaking to me over the phone not long ago, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabai Patel spoke to me about the ongoing efforts being made to provide all possible assistance to those affected. translation:
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 25, 2024
Fires are common in India due to poor construction methods, overcrowding and lack of adherence to safety rules.
In February, a fire broke out at a paint factory in the capital, New Delhi, killing 11 people.
In 2022, a devastating fire broke out in a four-story commercial building in the city, killing at least 27 people and injuring dozens.
In 2016, a massive explosion during a banned fireworks display in the southern state of Kerala killed more than 100 people.