At Least 24 Dead in Amusement Park Fire in Western India

Mangled and burnt ceiling of a fun park is seen after a fire in Rajkot in the Indian state of Gujarat, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Chirag Chotaliya)
Mangled and burnt ceiling of a fun park is seen after a fire in Rajkot in the Indian state of Gujarat, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Chirag Chotaliya)
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At Least 24 Dead in Amusement Park Fire in Western India

Mangled and burnt ceiling of a fun park is seen after a fire in Rajkot in the Indian state of Gujarat, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Chirag Chotaliya)
Mangled and burnt ceiling of a fun park is seen after a fire in Rajkot in the Indian state of Gujarat, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Chirag Chotaliya)

A massive fire broke out Saturday in an amusement park in Gujarat state in western India, leaving at least 24 people dead, police said.
The fire erupted at the park in the city of Rajkot in Gujarat state. 
The park is usually packed with families with children enjoying the school summer vacation over the weekend, The Associated Press reported.
Footage showed firefighters clearing debris around collapsed tin roof structures that media report said were used for bowling, go-karting and trampoline attractions.
The amusement park was privately owned by Yuvraj Singh Solanki and Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava said that police would file a case of negligence against him.
"We will be registering an offense for negligence and the deaths which have occurred. Further investigation will take place once we complete the rescue operation," he said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X that he was “extremely distressed by the fire ... in Rajkot. 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.



Putin: Russia to Resume Production of Nuclear-capable Intermediate Range Missiles

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with graduates of Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, June 28, 2024. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with graduates of Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, June 28, 2024. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
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Putin: Russia to Resume Production of Nuclear-capable Intermediate Range Missiles

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with graduates of Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, June 28, 2024. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with graduates of Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, June 28, 2024. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia would resume production of short and medium range nuclear-capable land-based missiles due to what he said were moves by the United States to deploy them in both Europe and Asia.
The United States formally withdrew from the landmark 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia in 2019 after saying that Moscow was violating the accord, an accusation the Kremlin denied.
Russia then imposed a moratorium on its own development of missiles previously banned by the INF treaty.
"It is known that the United States not only produces these missile systems, but has already brought them to Europe for exercises in Denmark," Putin told a meeting of Russia's Security Council.
"It was recently announced that they are in the Philippines. It is not known whether they took the missiles out of there or not."
Putin said that Russia was thus forced to respond.
"Apparently, we need to start manufacturing these strike systems and then, based on the actual situation, make decisions about where – if necessary to ensure our safety – to place them," Putin said.

Putin said earlier this month he could deploy conventional missiles within striking distance of the United States and its European allies if they allowed Ukraine to strike deeper into Russia with long-range Western weapons.