Bodies of 27 'burnt beyond recognition' after a massive fire in Indian amusement park, relatives say

Bodies of 27 ‘burnt beyond recognition’ after a massive fire in Indian amusement park, relatives say

1 of 18 |

A major fire broke out Saturday at an amusement park in Gujarat state in western India, killing at least 27 people, including several children, police and media reports said.

2 of 18 |

Earthmovers remove burnt debris the day after a fire broke out in an amusement park in Rajkot, India, Sunday, May 26, 2024. A massive fire damaged a large part of the park on Saturday, killing more than twenty people and injuring some others, news reports said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

3 of 18 |

4 of 18 |

Firefighters stand next to burnt debris the day after a fire broke out in an amusement park in Rajkot, India, Sunday, May 26, 2024. A massive fire damaged a large part of the park on Saturday, killing more than twenty people and injuring some others, news reports said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

5 of 18 |

6 of 18 |

A firefighter walks past burnt debris the day after a fire broke out in an amusement park in Rajkot, India, Sunday, May 26, 2024. A massive fire damaged a large part of the park on Saturday, killing more than twenty people and injuring some others, news reports said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

7 of 18 |

Policemen stand next to burnt debris the day after a fire broke out in an amusement park in Rajkot, India, Sunday, May 26, 2024. A massive fire damaged a large part of the park on Saturday, killing more than twenty people and injuring some others, news reports said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

8 of 18 |

Gujarat’s Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel, center, stands with government officials the day after a fire broke out in an amusement park in Rajkot, India, Sunday, May 26, 2024. A massive fire damaged a large part of the park on Saturday, killing more than twenty people and injuring some others, news reports said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

9 of 18 |

An earthmover removes burnt debris the day after a fire broke out in an amusement park in Rajkot, India, Sunday, May 26, 2024. A massive fire damaged a large part of the park on Saturday, killing more than twenty people and injuring some others, news reports said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

10 of 18 |

11 of 18 |

12 of 18 |

A firefighter walks next to burnt debris the day after a fire broke out in an amusement park in Rajkot, India, Sunday, May 26, 2024. A massive fire damaged a large part of the park on Saturday, killing more than twenty people and injuring some others, news reports said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

13 of 18 |

14 of 18 |

A firefighter moves among burnt debris the day after a fire broke out in an amusement park in Rajkot, India, Sunday, May 26, 2024. A massive fire damaged a large part of the park on Saturday, killing more than twenty people and injuring some others, news reports said. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

15 of 18 |

Aniruddhasinh Jadeja, father of 21-year-old Surpalsinh Jadeja, breaks down after hearing of his son’s death at a government hospital hours after a massive fire killed 27 people, including children, who were enjoying a weekend visit to an amusement park in the city of Rajkot, India, Sunday, May 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

16 of 18 |

A man breaks down as he waits with others for information about their family members at a government hospital hours after a massive fire killed 27 people, including children, who were enjoying a weekend visit to an amusement park in the city of Rajkot, India, Sunday, May 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

17 of 18 |

Relatives of 21-year-old Surpalsinh Jadeja break down after hearing of his death at a government hospital hours after a massive fire killed 27 people, including children, who were enjoying a weekend visit to an amusement park in the city of Rajkot, India, Sunday, May 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

18 of 18 |

A man holds his cellphone to show a photograph of his cousin Jignesh Gadhvi, who worked at an amusement park, hours after a massive fire killed 27 people, including children, who were enjoying a weekend visit to the amusement park in the city of Rajkot, India, Sunday, May 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

By AJIT SOLANKI

RAJKOT, India (AP) — Giriraj Singh waited for hours on Sunday to recover the body of his nephew but was told to head home as the remains were “burned beyond recognition.”

“The bodies are unidentifiable and authorities asked me to wait for the DNA tests,” Singh, a retired army officer, told The Associated Press.

His 24-year-old nephew was with three friends when a massive fire broke out Saturday at an amusement park in the city of Rajkot in western India, killing 27 people, including children, during the busy weekend coinciding with schools’ summer vacation in the state.

Local police officer Raju Bhargav said that while the owner Yuvraj Singh Solanki bought some fire extinguishers and was in the process of installing a water fire impression system, he ran the two-storey place without authorization from the fire department. He said Solanki and the park manager have been arrested and charged with “negligence that led to deaths.”

The park’s ground floor housed the reception area while the first floor had bowling, go-carting, and trampoline attractions.

Panicked visitors ran for safety but the narrow gates at the park restricted a quick escape, The Indian Express newspaper reported.

Parse.ly - related stories

People play a water gun game at Playland's Castaway Cove amusement park, in Ocean City, N.J, on Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Mingson Lau)

Smaller amusement parks hope for a strong summer under the shadow of tariffs

Visitors arrive at the Adventureland Park amusement park, Tuesday, July 6, 2021, in Altoona, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

Iowa amusement park’s former owner settles lawsuit over 11-year-old’s drowning

With the city skyline in backdrop, people of different nationalities enjoy a good weather of 24 degrees Celsius (75.2 degrees Fahrenheit) n Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)

Disney to build its 7th theme park, this one in the United Arab Emirates

Bhargav said the cause of the fire was under investigation, but there was some ongoing construction work and a spark from a welding machine might have ignited the fire. He added that the rescue operation was over and now teams were clearing the debris.

Relatives said doctors advised them Sunday not to wait and head home as DNA tests to identify the remains might take up to 48 hours.

The state’s top elected official, Bhupendra Patel, visited the fire scene and a hospital where some injured persons were undergoing treatment. Bhargav, the police officer, said three were hospitalized due to smoke inhalation and burns but were not in a life-threatening condition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X that he was “extremely distressed by the fire ... My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for the injured.”

Fires are common in India, where builders and residents often flout building laws and safety codes. Activists say builders frequently cut corners on safety to save money and have accused civic authorities of negligence and apathy.

In 2019, a fire caused by an electrical short circuit engulfed a building in the Indian capital and killed 43 people. In 2022, a fire in a four-story commercial building in New Delhi killed at least 27.