Rajkot gaming zone fire: 17 of 27 bodies handed over to families after DNA sampling, says Union Minister Rupala

After he visited Rajkot Civil Hospital on Tuesday, Union Parshottam Rupala said the DNA sampling results of the 10 other victims are awaited. Rupala was accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP Rambhai Mokaria who met the families of the deceased at the hospital.

“The DNA samples of all 27 bodies recovered from the site were sent for identification out of which 17 have been confirmed and handed over to the families. The 10 remaining DNA reports are still awaited,” Mokaria told media persons after the visit.

Rupala said he took stock of the situation, and met and discussed it with the officials concerned. “Along with the 27 bodies, some body parts too were recovered from the site,” he added.

When asked about his absence and the delay in meeting the victims’ families, Rupala said he met Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel at 8 am on the second day of the accident and coordinated with the departments working on it. “It is true that I did not go to the site but the CM is monitoring the situation and appropriate action will be taken,” he added.

“Suspensions (of government officials) are a part of the required action but not the final result. The SIT has been formed to investigate the incident. Strict action will be taken against those responsible,” Rupala stated.

On Monday, officials said the identities of at least five charred bodies recovered from the Rajkot TRP gaming zone fire site were confirmed through DNA sampling.

The fire that broke out at the Rajkot TRP gaming site last Saturday claimed 28 lives, including those of seven children. According to officials, the remains of all missing people have been found except one.