Gujarat Government Overhauls Top Brass in Aftermath of Devastating Gaming Zone Fire
Following the tragic inferno at a Rajkot gaming zone that claimed 27 lives, including children, the Gujarat government has taken swift action, transferring six Indian Police Service (IPS) officers and the city's Municipal Commissioner.
IPS Officers Reshuffled
Rajkot Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava has been replaced by IPS officer Brijesh Kumar Jha. Additionally, Additional Commissioner of Police (Administration, Traffic and Crime) Rajkot City, Vidhi Choudhary, and DCP-Zone 2, Rajkot, Sudhirkumar J Desai, have also been transferred, as per a government notification.
Municipal Commissioner Replaced
The government has also transferred Rajkot Municipal Commissioner Anand Patel, appointing DP Desai, currently the CEO of the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA), in his place.
Government and Officials Held Accountable
These high-profile transfers come on the heels of strong criticism from the Gujarat High Court, which expressed concern over the construction of the game zone in an unregulated area and questioned the accountability of municipal commissioners and government officials. The court has directed all former Rajkot municipal commissioners, from the establishment of the TRP game zone in 2021 until the incident on May 25, to submit individual affidavits.
Suspension Orders Issued
Earlier in the day, the Gujarat government had ordered the suspension of seven officials in connection with the fire tragedy. These included the town planning department assistant engineer, assistant town planner, and deputy executive engineers from the Rajkot Municipal Corporation and Roads and Buildings department, as well as police inspectors.
Background of the Tragedy
The fire at the TRP game zone in the Nana-Mava locality of Rajkot on Saturday evening claimed the lives of 27 individuals, including children. Investigations revealed that the establishment lacked a fire department permit and had only one exit, contributing to the severity of the incident.
Compensation Announced
The state government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of each deceased. The Central government has also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased person.
