"Now we don't trust Gujarat government": High Court condemns Rajkot gaming zone fire lapses
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court today, expressed outrage over the devastating fire that engulfed a gaming zone in Rajkot, claiming the lives of 28 individuals, including nine children. The court lambasted the municipal body for its failure to certify the safety of such establishments and criticized the state government for its apparent negligence in oversight.
The court was furious as it learned that the gaming zone had been operating without the necessary permits, including fire safety certifications, for over two years. Questions were raised about the complicity of local authorities, with photographs surfacing showing officials present at the site, prompting the court to demand accountability.
Furthermore, the court criticized the state government for its lax enforcement of regulations, highlighting a series of fire-related incidents in Gujarat in recent years. Despite previous directives and instructions, the court lamented that such tragedies continued to occur due to systemic failures.
Amidst the uproar, the state government assured immediate action, with arrests made and investigations underway. The court, however, remained unconvinced, stressing on the need for concrete measures to prevent future mishaps.
The tragic incident, which claimed the lives of a newly-wed couple and several others, has sparked national outrage and calls for stringent safety measures in public establishments.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
PM Modi tours iconic Dutch dam; eyes cooperation in water management
The Hague (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten, toured the iconic Afsluitdijk Dam on Sunday, as India and the Netherlands explored deeper collaboration in water management and climate-resilient infrastructure.
“An area in which the Netherlands has done groundbreaking work is water management. The entire international community can learn a great deal from this,” Modi said in a social media post after the visit.
The PM further said: “We are committed to bringing modern technology to India, which is intended to help with irrigation, flood protection, and the expansion of the inland waterway network.”
Calling the Afsluitdijk Dam a “symbol of excellence and innovation”, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted its role in water management, flood protection and freshwater storage.
“The visit highlighted the relevance of Dutch expertise for India’s Kalpasar Project in Gujarat, which aims to create a freshwater reservoir and dam near the Gulf of Khambhat,” the MEA said in a social media post.
“The visit underscored opportunities for deeper Indo-Dutch collaboration in climate resilience, water technology and sustainable infrastructure,” it added.
Modi landed in The Hague on Friday on a two-day visit as part of a four-nation trip to Europe - which also includes Sweden, Norway and Italy - aimed at ramping up bilateral ties on a range of key areas.
Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) posts, "An area in which the Netherlands has done groundbreaking work is water management. The entire international community can learn a great deal from this. This morning, I had the opportunity to visit the Afsluitdijk… pic.twitter.com/HjeJbku1OT
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 17, 2026
