25 Die In Indian Nightclub Fire Incident

At least 25 people have been confirmed dead after a massive fire tore through a popular nightclub in India’s coastal state of Goa, Saturday night.

The inferno, which engulfed the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub near a major beach hub, is believed to have been triggered by a gas cylinder explosion in the kitchen, according to police.

Authorities said most of the victims were staff, with some tourists also among the dead.

Police said the manager of the nightclub has been arrested and in its custody, while a warrant has been issued for the owner.

Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the packed venue, hosting a Bollywood-themed DJ night erupted in flames around midnight.

Goa Police Chief Alok Kumar said the fire was concentrated on the ground-floor kitchen area. Many bodies were recovered close to that section, “suggesting they were employees,” he noted.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told reporters that three victims died from severe burns, while others succumbed to suffocation. Six injured persons remain in stable condition.

Emergency crews were still combing through the charred remains of the structure on Sunday morning. Firefighters reported difficulties accessing the main building due to a narrow passage across a small lake leading to the entrance.

Eight victims have so far been identified as migrant workers from the Indian states of Jharkhand, Assam, and Uttarakhand.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “deeply saddening.”

The state government has launched a formal inquiry, with officials promising strict action against anyone found negligent.

Goa, which welcomed 5.5 million tourists in the first half of the year, has faced mounting criticism from opposition politicians over what they described as lax safety regulations in the booming nightlife sector.

The incident adds to a troubling pattern of deadly fires at entertainment venues across India, including recent tragedies in Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Gujarat.