Amusement Park Fire Kills at Least 20 in India

Police blame owner for negligence
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 25, 2024 12:30 PM CDT
Fire Kills at Least 20 at Amusement Park in India
Firefighters douse a fire in a fun park in Rajkot, in the Indian state of Gujarat, on Saturday.   (AP Photo/Chirag Chotaliya)

A massive fire broke out Saturday in an amusement park in Gujarat state in western India, leaving at least 20 people dead, police said. The fire erupted at the park in the city of Rajkot in Gujarat state. Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava said the fire is now under control and the rescue operation is underway with 20 bodies recovered, the AP reports. The park is usually packed with families enjoying the school summer vacation over the weekend. Footage showed firefighters clearing debris around collapsed tin roof structures that media reports said were used for bowling, go-karting, and trampoline attractions.

The amusement park was privately owned by Yuvraj Singh Solanki, and Bhargava said police would file a case against him. "We will be registering an offense for negligence and the deaths which have occurred. Further investigation will take place once we complete the rescue operation," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X that he was "extremely distressed by the fire. ... My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for the injured." Fires are common in India, where builders and residents often flout building laws and safety codes.

(More India stories.)

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