India games arcade fire kills 24

At least 24 people have died in a massive fire at a games arcade in India.

Local officials say flames and a huge pall of smoke were seen rising into the sky at the building in Rajkot, in the western state of Gujarat.

Rajkot Police says so far, 24 bodies have been sent to the civil hospital, and some bodies are still being recovered.

Several victims are reported to be children.

There are fears more victims may still be trapped under the wreckage, and local police have also said that identification of the heavily burned bodies had proven difficult.

The blaze broke out yesterday afternoon when the arcade was packed with children and young people.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said a “special investigation team” has been assigned.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he was “extremely distressed” by the fire in Rajkot and his thoughts were with those who had lost loved ones.

BBC