Twelve months have passed since a devastating fire claimed 27 lives at a Rajkot gaming center, yet bereaved families remain without closure as their quest for justice continues.
Aniruddhsinh Jadeja struggles to contain his emotions when speaking about his son Surpalsinh, who was just 22 years old. The young man from Dhrol in Jamnagar district was pursuing his university education in Rajkot and had visited the TRP gaming zone with companions on May 25, 2024.
“Not a single day has gone by in these 365 days without our family shedding tears for Surpalsinh,” Jadeja shares, his voice breaking. His son was among those who perished in the inferno and had been scheduled to marry during Diwali season, just six months after the tragedy.
“We haven’t seen any form of justice yet. The courts are our last resort now. While others offer promises, only those who have endured the loss of a child in such circumstances can truly understand our anguish,” Jadeja explains.
The tragedy also took the life of 19-year-old Asha Kathad, who worked at the gaming facility. Her younger brother Kamlesh, now 17, expresses frustration over the prolonged wait for accountability.
“The authorities provided Rs 4 lakh in compensation, but where is the justice? From the beginning, we’ve demanded severe penalties for those responsible, yet we continue waiting indefinitely,” Kamlesh states.
The Kathad family had relocated to Rajkot from their rural home in Junagadh’s Manavadar taluka in January 2024, seeking better prospects. Asha, fresh from completing her Class 12 education, aspired to pursue higher studies in the city.
“Due to financial constraints, she took employment at TRP zone while awaiting college admission. Her monthly earnings of Rs 14,000 helped support our household. Since her youth, she harbored dreams of military service,” Kamlesh recalls.
Asha’s father Chandubhai, employed as a security officer at a business complex located 2 kilometers from TRP zone, was the final person to witness her alive.
“Upon noticing the flames and hearing explosions from the location, he rushed to the scene. He observed my sister escaping through the entrance, but she quickly returned inside upon hearing distress calls from others. She never emerged again,” Kamlesh recounts.
The gaming facility, situated in Rajkot’s Nana Mauva district, operated without proper police authorization or Fire Safety Certificate (FSC).
Investigators determined that welding equipment sparked the blaze, which then spread to combustible substances including diesel fuel stored at the location.
Following the disaster, authorities arrested multiple parties, with 15 individuals, including municipal officials, taken into custody between May 26 and June 28, 2024. Both the Rajkot Municipal Commissioner Anand Patel and Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava faced immediate transfers.
As of May 24, 2025, four defendants have secured bail while eleven others remain imprisoned awaiting trial.
Prosecutors have compiled nearly 5,000 pages of documentary evidence. Seven defendants have requested case dismissal, though the court has yet to rule on these petitions.
Ashok Modasiya, 53, gazes at photographs of three family members displayed in his residence. The fire took his daughters Khushali, 24, and Tisha, 18, along with son-in-law Vivek, 26, as he tells The Indian Express.
The newlyweds Khushali and Vivek had celebrated their marriage merely three months prior to the incident. Tisha was enrolled in her first year of BCA studies.
Khushali had traveled from her marital home in Gir Somnath’s Veraval to Rajkot for marriage documentation. Vivek came to collect her, and they decided to visit the gaming center with Tisha.
“That final encounter was our last with all three. On May 28 at 6 pm, we received their remains following DNA verification,” Ashokbhai recalls.
“Tomorrow marks one year, yet justice remains elusive. Officials promised swift identification and imprisonment of culprits through expedited court processes, but we’ve received nothing except continued waiting and hope,” he adds while his wife Amitaben observes silently. “Losing both children at such tender ages has devastated her emotionally. The incident has left her deeply traumatized,” Ashokbhai notes.
Tushar M Gokani, the Special Public Prosecutor designated by Gujarat’s government for this case, tells The Indian Express: “Regarding the TRP case, I believe the state government shares the victims’ suffering and therefore has responded rapidly to all legal matters. Remarkably, the Home Department has requested written updates every two weeks.”
He continues, “Representing the state, I submitted a petition in November 2024 requesting accelerated proceedings, ideally conducted daily. As Special Prosecutor, I pledge to ensure swift justice for victims while adhering to proper legal procedures.”
Many victims, including children, suffered such severe burns that families endured three to four days at Rajkot Civil Hospital while bodies were transported to Gandhinagar Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for DNA identification.