Twenty-five people, including club workers and holidaymakers, have died after a late-night fire tore through a popular nightclub in Goa, India, in what authorities believe was triggered by a gas cylinder explosion.
In an interview with journalists on Sunday, Goa’s Director General of Police, Alok Kumar, said the blaze started around midnight and rapidly engulfed the venue’s ground-floor kitchen area, where most bodies were later recovered.
“The fire was mainly concentrated around the kitchen area on the ground floor. The fire occurred around midnight. It has now been brought under control,” Kumar said, noting that the location of the victims strongly suggested many were staff members on duty when the explosion occurred.
Officials confirmed that six injured survivors remain in stable condition in hospital. Goa’s Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, said three victims died from severe burns while others succumbed to suffocation. He added that “three to four” tourists were among the dead but did not immediately provide their nationalities.
Local media identified the venue as Birch by Romeo Lane, a popular nightclub in the Baga area one of Goa’s busiest beach corridors known for its dense stretch of nightlife hotspots. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as partygoers fled the club amid screams and thick smoke.
“One moment everyone was enjoying themselves; the next, there were screams everywhere,” an eyewitness told the BBC. “I was outside the club when I heard people shouting. In a bit, it became clear that a massive fire had broken out. Nobody could do much. The scenes were just horrific.”
Emergency crews continued combing through the charred remains of the building on Sunday morning, retrieving bodies and securing the structure. Firefighters said identification of the victims is still underway before families can be notified.
A heavy security presence cordoned off the site, with the nightclub’s doors sealed as investigators launched a formal inquiry into the cause of the explosion. Chief Minister Sawant vowed accountability, saying: “Those found responsible will face the most stringent action under the law any negligence will be dealt with firmly.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “deeply saddening,” offering condolences to the families of the victims.
Goa, a former Portuguese colony famed for its beaches, nightlife, and resorts, attracts millions of tourists each year. The disaster adds to a troubling pattern of fatal fires across India’s entertainment and hospitality venues, where safety lapses have repeatedly contributed to high casualty figures.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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