Emergencies
Children among dead after major fires in India
Workers clear away the rubble after a fire in a gaming hall. Several bodies were recovered. Photo
© Ajit Solanki/AP/dpa
Two tragic fires occurred in India over the weekend: a gaming arcade burned down in Gujarat, and a newborn clinic in Delhi went up in flames overnight.
The bodies were burned beyond recognition, reported the broadcaster NDTV, citing the police. DNA samples from the victims and their relatives were therefore taken to enable identification.
The fire broke out on Saturday afternoon (local time) in the city of Rajkot. According to the “Indian Express”, rescue workers were deployed for over six hours to bring the fire under control. The hall burned down to its basic structures, as can be seen in pictures.
Emergency exit was blocked
The cause of the fire was still unknown. The entertainment venue did not have the required fire safety certificate and only had one emergency exit, reported NDTV. After the fire broke out, this escape route was also blocked when a temporary structure near the entrance collapsed, the broadcaster quoted the fire department as saying. Visitors were therefore unable to get out of the building – and rescue workers were unable to get in.
According to reports, the arcade owner was arrested. He and other suspected perpetrators are being investigated for negligent homicide, among other things.
Seven babies die after fire in neonatal clinic
Late on Saturday evening, another fire tragedy occurred in the capital region of Delhi, where a neonatal clinic in the Vivek Vihar district in the east of the city was ablaze, according to media reports. Twelve babies were rescued from the clinic and taken to another hospital, NDTV reported, citing rescue workers. However, seven children succumbed to their serious injuries there. Five babies are still receiving treatment.
The cause of the fire was still unclear. In this case, too, investigations were launched against the owner of the clinic – but according to the media, he has gone into hiding.