The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Rajkot fire tragedy on May 25 has highlighted serious lapses by the promoters of the TRP Game Zone, leading to 28 deaths.
The SIT report revealed the lack of separate entry and exit gates, absence of emergency exits, and unsafe welding practices inside the facility.
Instead of having separate entry and exit gates, there was just one narrow passage for visitors to enter with no mandatory emergency exit as per the specifications defined under the National Building Code and fire safety rules.
The probe has also revealed that welding work, being carried out for the construction of a proposed snow park inside, led to the blaze. The welding work was being done in spite of there being highly inflammable material nearby. Besides, the place where the welding was being done had foam and tyres, which are highly combustible.
Petrol stored
SIT chief Subhash Trivedi told the media in Gandhinagar that 30 litres of petrol was stored in the gaming zone, much more than the permissible limits. Action would be taken against those responsible under the Petroleum Act, he said.
There was a metal ladder placed in a narrow space of 4-5 feet between a restaurant and the proposed snow park to reach the first floor, which housed a bowling facility and a trampoline park. As the fire spread through the structure, it was impossible to reach the first floor or get down.
That the owners were indifferent to the safety of visitors is evident from the revelation that the sole fire hydrant system installed inside had no water connection, thus rendering it useless in case of a fire. Only one fire extinguisher was found from the kitchen area.
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