1 month of game zone fire: Shops, educational institutes in Rajkot observe bandh

Schools, colleges, tuition centres, gold and jewellery markets and other commercial establishments also remained shut to support the 'Rajkot bandh' called by the opposition Congress.

Ahmedabad: The Rajkot city on Tuesday observed a half-day “complete bandh” following a call given by the opposition Congress “for justice to victims” to mark one month of the fire incident that killed 27 people at a popular game zone.

The streets of the main city wore a deserted look as all commercial establishments, schools, colleges and other public places remained shut. Congress called the bandh as “successful and historic” which was aimed at highlighting the plight of the victims for justice and higher compensation.

State Congress chief Shaktisinh Gohil while thanking the citizens of Rajkot said that the state government should go after higher officials responsible for the tragedy and not just “small fish”.

So far, the local police have arrested 15 suspects including, chief fire officer of Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) Ilesh Kher, deputy chief fire officer Bhika Theba, Mahesh Rathod, the site work supervisor of the gaming zone, five partners of the game zone, among others.

Recently, state government's Special Investigation Team (SIT) found many lapses on part of officers of police department, RMC, roads and buildings department and fire department in providing various mandatory certificates. The SIT chief Subhash Trivedi also said that four IAS officers and one IPS officer who had visited the game zone in the past and their pictures were being circulated on social media were also questioned.

The Gujarat High Court while hearing a suo motu PIL has rapped the state government on many occasions for not taking actions against municipal commissioners. Earlier this month, citing fatal accidents such as gaming zone fire, Morbi suspension bridge collapse and Harni Lake boat, the court ordered the state government to probe into the functioning of all municipal commissioners as the incidents reflected "dereliction of duties" on the part of these officers.

The high court remarked, "the working of the Municipal Commissioners of the Corporations in the State has become aweigh."