A late-night fire at a popular nightclub in India’s Goa state has killed at least 25 people, including tourists, local officials said on Sunday.
The incident happened shortly after midnight in Arpora, North Goa, a well-known party zone. Goa’s chief minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll, noting that many of the victims were kitchen workers. He added that “three to four tourists” were also among the dead, while six injured persons were receiving treatment and were in stable condition.
Local police told the Press Trust of India that the fire started after a gas cylinder exploded inside the building. Officers said the blaze had been put out and “all the bodies have been recovered.” According to police, about 100 people were on the dance floor when the fire began, causing a rush toward the lower floor kitchen where several people became trapped with staff.
Reports said firefighters struggled to reach the building because the nightclub sits along the Arpora river backwaters and has only one narrow access route. Fire tankers had to be parked about 400 metres from the club, slowing down the response.
A village council official, Roshan Redkar, told the news agency that the nightclub had previously received a demolition notice for operating without a government construction permit. He claimed that “higher officials rolled back the order” before the fire.
Chief Minister Sawant said the state had opened an inquiry to find out what caused the fire and whether safety rules were ignored. He said investigators would check compliance with building regulations and fire safety standards.
India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, described the tragedy as “deeply saddening” in a social media post. He said he had spoken with Sawant and noted that the state government “is providing all possible assistance to those affected,” while sending condolences to families who lost loved ones.
Gas cylinder explosions are common in parts of India and often lead to deadly fires, raising concerns about weak enforcement of safety rules.
Goa, on India’s western coastline, is one of the country’s top tourist centres, popular for its beaches and nightlife.
