On dated 25.05.2024, There was a massive fire in TRP game zone at Rajkot, which claimed 28 innocent lives including that of small children. Initial investigation reveals that death was not due to fumes or suffocation but due to high shock burn injuries. The children and parents were not aware about the hazards/trap and exits as they came here for enjoyment with concession rate on weekend. As per the initial report and CCTV camera footage the root cause of fire was unsafe act and unsafe condition. some modification work was going on for expansion of the game zone in the basement area and for that Hot work was under progress on roof structure. The was huge storage of flammable and combustible materials near the hot work site.
The welding splatter was falling from height and sudden explosion occurred . The workers has tried to control the fire with fire extinguisher but failed as intensity of fire was high workers were not able to reach near to the fire and thus first aid firefighting appliance could not control it. The work was going on escape route stairs case at basement.
It was temporary structure without any approval from fire and emergency services and no fire and life safety arrangement and running since last 3 years.
Following are some contributing factors which led to this disaster.
- About 3000-liter flammable fuel was there inside premises(violation of PESO rule as you cannot store more than Class A petroleum product without PESO license). This petrol was stored for car racing game….all fueling was manual and petrol vapor escape in atmosphere while fueling petrol manually leading petrol vapor spread inside dome and near welding spot may resulted to splash fire.
- There is no separate entry and exit door (only 7 feet length door was for entry and exit)
- There was a special scheme for Saturday that ticket cost for game zone discounted only 99 Rs against 400 Rs normal day rate: Overcrowded Place
- Welding work was in progress when the rush of children and parents at peak. Such welding work should be done during night or on off day.
- There is no system of permit to work.
- Testimony by evacuated children
The learning are :
- Fire and Life safety risk assessment shall be done.
- Structure shall be fire resistance as per NBC building category as per fire load rating.
- There shall be sufficient means of escape as per defined occupancy for safe evacuation of occupant in case of any emergency.
- There shall be marked and display of fire and life safety signage to guide occupants , Entry /Exit, and assembly points.
- No temporary structure shall be used for mass assembly or commercial premises without proper approval by local authorities, with define timeline.
- There shall be stability certificate, fire safety certificate , occupancy certificate before operation of any facility.
- Provision of smoke management system interlock with fire detection and alarm system.
- The maximum occupancy shall not be exceeded in any conditions like giving offer cheap tickets in 300% discount(99/-) of actual cost (400INR)
- Permit to work for any hot job shall be implemented for all buildings.
- The HOT work shall be not executed on working days or high occupancy day as well as shall not be done in Night hours, it shall be done in day hours.
- The Hot work shall be plan and executed with proper precaution to contain and confine falling or flying welding splatters to others area by using fire blanket booth just below welding point.
- Use of approved fire blanket and welding booth to contain and confine welding splatter or DA cutting hot metals.
- No storage of flammable, combustible material in basement and nearby HOT work area.
- Deployment of fire trained staff and training to 100% working staff
- Provision of fire detection and alarm system and fixed firefighting system.