At least 23 people have died in a fire that broke out at a popular nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, India, according to local officials. The majority of the victims are believed to be club staff, although tourists are also among those who perished in the tragedy. Authorities suspect that a gas cylinder exploded in the club’s kitchen, igniting the blaze shortly after midnight on Saturday local time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “deeply saddening” in a social media post.
The fire mainly affected the kitchen area on the ground floor, as explained by Alok Kumar, Goa’s Director General of Police. He noted that while the fire has since been brought under control, it devastated the club. Most of the victims’ bodies were discovered near the kitchen, suggesting they were employees of the club. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed that three people died from burn injuries, while others succumbed to smoke inhalation. He mentioned that “three to four” tourists also lost their lives, but did not disclose their ages or nationalities.
The Indian Express reported that the fire occurred at a venue called Birch by Romeo Lane, located at one of Goa’s most popular beaches. This area is known for its nightlife, often seeing tourists and partygoers flock to various clubs. A chef from a nearby establishment expressed concern for colleagues at the Birch club, sharing that workers come from all over India and even Nepal. “I am really worried for some people I knew at the club. Their phones are off,” he said.
Rescue operations continued into the early hours of Sunday as crews sifted through the charred remains of the nightclub to uncover the fire’s cause. One firefighter mentioned that they were still identifying the victims and would notify their families afterward. A formal inquiry has been initiated to investigate the fire, with Chief Minister Sawant emphasizing that strict legal action would be taken against those found responsible. “Any negligence will be dealt with firmly,” he stated, expressing his deep sorrow and condolences to the families affected by this tragic loss.
Goa, a former Portuguese colony on the Arabian Sea, attracts millions of tourists each year with its vibrant nightlife and beautiful beaches. Approximately 5.5 million tourists visited Goa in the first half of this year, with 270,000 coming from abroad. Unfortunately, India has seen several deadly fires at entertainment venues in recent years. A fire in May at a three-storey building in Hyderabad claimed 17 lives, while a hotel fire in Kolkata left 15 dead. Last year, 24 individuals died in an amusement park arcade in Gujarat when a temporary structure collapsed, trapping attendees inside; an official review later cited poor safety standards as a contributing factor to the high death toll.
Original Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdj82d0nd4eo
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-12-07 08:21:00
