At least 20 dead in amusement park fire packed with children on school holiday

Firefighters try to extinguish a fire which broke out at an amusement park facility in Rajkot (Picture: AFP) A massive fire has broken out at an amusement park leaving at least 20 people dead and more trapped. The fire erupted at the park popular with families with children in Rajkot, western India in Gujarat state. Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava said the fire was under control and the rescue operation under way with 20 bodies recovered. Identifying the bodies has also been difficult due to the extent of burning, local police said. It is feared children are among those trapped as the park was in the midst of a busy period during the school holidays. 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 Mr Bhargava said that police will file a case of negligence against him. ‘We will be registering an offence for negligence and the deaths which have occurred. Further investigation will take place once we complete the rescue operation,’ he said. Rescuers carry dead bodies (Picture: AP) Aerial photograph of the amusement park (Picture: AFP via Getty Images) It is feared people are still trapped (Picture: AP) The cause of the fire is under investigation. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said: ‘Instructions have been given to the Municipal Corporation and the administration for immediate rescue and relief operations in the fire incident in the game zone in Rajkot. ‘It has also instructed to prioritize arrangements for immediate treatment of the injured.’ The cause of the fire is under investigation (Picture: AP) Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that he was ‘extremely distressed by the fire … in Rajkot. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for the injured.’ President Droupadi Murmu said: ‘I am deeply anguished to learn of the loss of lives in a fire accident at a gaming zone in Rajkot, Gujarat. ‘My heart goes out to the families who have lost their near and dear ones including young children. I pray to the Almighty for the speedy recovery of those being rescued.’ Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected]. For more stories like this, check our news page.

At least 20 dead in amusement park fire packed with children on school holiday
Firefighters try to extinguish a fire which broke out at an amusement park facility in Rajkot, in India's Gujarat state on May 25, 2024. At least 16 people were killed, most of them children, when a fire broke out at a packed amusement park facility in India on May 25, officials said. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)
Firefighters try to extinguish a fire which broke out at an amusement park facility in Rajkot (Picture: AFP)

A massive fire has broken out at an amusement park leaving at least 20 people dead and more trapped.

The fire erupted at the park popular with families with children in Rajkot, western India in Gujarat state.

Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava said the fire was under control and the rescue operation under way with 20 bodies recovered.

Identifying the bodies has also been difficult due to the extent of burning, local police said.

It is feared children are among those trapped as the park was in the midst of a busy period during the school holidays.

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 Mr Bhargava said that police will file a case of negligence against him.

‘We will be registering an offence for negligence and the deaths which have occurred. Further investigation will take place once we complete the rescue operation,’ he said.

Rescuers carry dead bodies of person killed in a fire which broke out in an amusement park, in Rajkot in the Indian state of Gujarat, Saturday, May 25, 2024. A massive fire broke out on Saturday in a fun park in western India, killing more than ten people and injuring some others, news reports said. (AP Photo/Chirag Chotaliya)
Rescuers carry dead bodies (Picture: AP)
This aerial photograph taken on May 25, 2024 shows firefighters trying to extinguish a fire which broke out at an amusement park facility in Rajkot, in India's Gujarat state. At least 16 people were killed, most of them children, when a fire broke out at a packed amusement park facility in India on May 25, officials said. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)
Aerial photograph of the amusement park (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
Firefighters and locals douse a fire which broke out in an amusement park, in Rajkot in the Indian state of Gujarat, Saturday, May 25, 2024. A massive fire broke out on Saturday in a fun park in western India, killing more than ten people and injuring some others, news reports said. (AP Photo/Chirag Chotaliya)
It is feared people are still trapped (Picture: AP)

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said: ‘Instructions have been given to the Municipal Corporation and the administration for immediate rescue and relief operations in the fire incident in the game zone in Rajkot.

‘It has also instructed to prioritize arrangements for immediate treatment of the injured.’

Rescuers carry a dead body of a person killed in a fire which broke out in a fun park, in Rajkot in the Indian state of Gujarat, Saturday, May 25, 2024. A massive fire broke out on Saturday in a fun park in western India, killing more than ten people and injuring some others, news reports said. (AP Photo/Chirag Chotaliya)
The cause of the fire is under investigation (Picture: AP)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that he was ‘extremely distressed by the fire … in Rajkot. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for the injured.’

President Droupadi Murmu said: ‘I am deeply anguished to learn of the loss of lives in a fire accident at a gaming zone in Rajkot, Gujarat.

‘My heart goes out to the families who have lost their near and dear ones including young children. I pray to the Almighty for the speedy recovery of those being rescued.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.