Goa nightclub fire: At least 23 dead as major fire breaks out in Arpora from suspected ‘cylinder blast’
At least 23 people died in a fire at a nightclub in the western Indian state of Goa early Sunday, Prime Minister Pramod Sawant and other officials said.
According to the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency, many tourists were among those killed in the fire that broke out around midnight in a club in Arpora in the North Goa district.
“Today is a very sad day for all of us in Goa. A major fire incident in Arpora claimed the lives of 23 people,” Sawant wrote to X.
“I visited the scene and ordered an investigation,” he said.
“Those found responsible will face the strictest sanctions under the law; any negligence will be dealt with harshly.”
Sawant told reporters at the scene that “three to four” tourists had died, without specifying their nationality.
He said three people died due to burns, while the others died due to suffocation.
“This is a tragic incident that should never have happened. The business was operating without the necessary permits and this negligence led to the fire,” he said.
Video footage from PTI showed rescuers carrying injured or dead people on stretchers down the narrow stone stairs of Birch nightclub as police, paramedics and onlookers gathered on the street.
Goa, a former Portuguese colony on the Arabian Sea, attracts millions of tourists every year with its nightlife, beaches and laid-back coastal atmosphere.
However, fires are becoming common in India due to poor construction practices, overcrowding and non-compliance with safety regulations.
Local media, citing police officials, stated that the fire was suspected to have broken out as a result of a “cylinder explosion”, but further investigation was required.
PTI quoted local legislator Michael Lobo as saying that firefighters and police participated in rescue efforts throughout the night.
Lobo added that authorities will conduct fire safety inspections in similar places to prevent such incidents.
In May, at least 17 people died in a fire that broke out in a three-storey building in Hyderabad, India.
A month ago, a severe fire broke out in a hotel in Kolkata and at least 15 people died. Some citizens climbed onto the roof from the windows to escape.
Last year, at least 24 people died in a fire at a packed amusement park in the western state of Gujarat.
At the time, officials attributed the high number of deaths and injuries at the arcade to a lack of proper safety standards, stating that people were trapped when a temporary structure collapsed near the entrance to the facility.
