After Rajkot tragedy, all 101 gaming facilities in Gujarat shut amid violation of rules

After the Rajkot inferno in which 28 lives were lost, not even a single one of the total 101 entertainment facilities registered in the eight big cities of Gujarat inspected is allowed to remain operational.

In the eight municipal corporation areas, the state govt has sealed 20 zones for lacking requisite authorizations, and has "temporarily closed down" the remaining 81, according to sources in the urban development department. 

This effectively implies that the govt is not absolutely certain that they are completely safe for citizens.

As many as eight out of 12 gaming zones were sealed in Rajkot followed by five in Ahmedabad, four in Junagadh and three in Bhavnagar. 

Sources said that 101 arcades are those whose records are with the govt.

Authorities are also looking at entertainment zones operating illegally.

Top officials in the govt reasoned that a new policy for entertainment zones, that will cover all aspects of safety, is under perusal, and all gaming zones will be governed by a new set of guidelines.

Sources added that 20 gaming zones have been sealed for various kinds of violations which include absence of BU permission, fire department NOC and other required authorizations. 

In Vadodara, where 16 gaming zones including 11 indoor ones have been shut after the Rajkot tragedy, municipal chief Dilip Kumar Rana said that notices will be issued to these establishments asking them to take steps to ensure safety measures.