Goa Nightclub Fire: 25, Including Tourists, Killed in Suspected Cylinder Blast

India

oi-Ashish Rana

A
massive
fire
at
the
well-known
nightclub
Birch
by
Romeo
Lane
in
Arpora,
North
Goa,
claimed
the
lives
of
25
people
late
last
night.

Officials
said
nearly
50
others
were
injured
and
were
rushed
to
Goa
Medical
College
for
urgent
treatment.
Early
assessments
confirm
that
the
deceased
include
three
to
four
tourists
along
with
nineteen
staff
members
of
the
club.

Blast
Near
Kitchen
Believed
to
Be
Trigger

Goa
Police
reported
that
the
fire
broke
out
at
around
1:00
am
and
was
likely
caused
by
a
gas
cylinder
explosion
close
to
the
kitchen
area.
The
blast
was
described
as
so
powerful
that
flames
spread
across
the
building
within
seconds,
trapping
many
inside.
According
to
investigators,
routine
closing
and
preparation
work
was
underway
and
a
suspected
gas
leak
may
have
led
to
the
explosion.

The
bodies
have
been
sent
for
post
mortem
examinations,
and
officials
are
still
gathering
detailed
information
about
the
conditions
of
those
who
survived.

Rescue
Efforts
and
Initial
Investigation

Fire
tenders
worked
for
nearly
two
hours
to
bring
the
blaze
under
control.
Rescue
teams
continued
operations
through
the
night
as
authorities
began
identifying
victims
and
contacting
families.
The
Director
General
of
Police
said
the
probe
would
examine
fire
safety
measures,
gas
line
systems,
and
the
emergency
exit
layout
to
determine
if
any
rules
were
violated.

Police
have
sealed
the
nightclub,
and
the
owners
along
with
the
management
team
are
being
questioned.

Leaders
Express
Condolences

President
Draupadi
Murmu
offered
her
condolences,
stating
she
is
“Deeply
pained
by
the
tragic
fire
incident
in
North
Goa
district
resulting
in
the
loss
of
precious
lives.” She
added,
“My
heartfelt
condolences
to
the
bereaved
families.
May
they
find
strength
during
this
difficult
time.
I
pray
for
the
speedy
recovery
of
those
injured.”

Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi
also
expressed
profound
grief
over
the
disaster.
Calling
the
incident
“deeply
saddening,” he
said,
“The
fire
mishap
in
Arpora,
Goa
is
deeply
saddening.
My
thoughts
are
with
all
those
who
have
lost
their
loved
ones.
May
the
injured
recover
at
the
earliest.
Spoke
to
Goa
CM
Dr.
Pramod
Sawant
Ji
about
the
situation.
The
State
Government
is
providing
all
possible
assistance
to
those
affected.”

Goa
Chief
Minister
Dr
Pramod
Sawant
said
it
was
a
“very
painful” day
for
the
state
and
confirmed
that
he
has
ordered
a
detailed
inquiry
into
whether
safety
norms
and
building
guidelines
were
followed.

Authorities
say
the
findings
of
the
investigation
will
be
crucial
in
understanding
how
such
a
catastrophic
fire
unfolded
inside
a
busy
establishment
and
whether
adequate
precautions
were
in
place.

As
families
mourn
and
survivors
recover,
the
tragedy
has
renewed
calls
for
stricter
enforcement
of
safety
norms
across
entertainment
venues
in
Goa.
The
state
now
waits
for
clarity
on
the
lapses
that
led
to
one
of
its
most
devastating
nightclub
incidents
in
recent
years.