Goa fire tragedy: At least 23 people have died after a major fire broke out at a popular nightclub in Arpora, Goa. The fire erupted around 12:04 am, leading to an immediate emergency response. “Primary information indicates that the nightclub had not followed fire safety norms. Three women and three to four tourists are among the 23 killed,” Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told reporters. 

Ambulances reached quickly and the injured were taken to nearby hospitals. Police and firefighters worked through the night to control the flames and recover the bodies, the state police chief confirmed.

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Eyewitnesses describe panic and blast

A security guard at a nearby restaurant described the moment the fire started. “We heard a massive explosion. We later learned that the fire broke out after a cylinder blast,” the guard told news agency ANI.

The security guard of the club where the fire erupted told the news agency, “The incident occurred between 11 pm and 12 am. Suddenly, there was a fire, I was at the gate and a DJ, dancer were going to come here and it was about to get really crowded”.

Another local resident shared a similar account, saying, “When I was heading home, I heard an explosion. Later, we saw ambulances arriving at the spot. When we reached the location, we saw that the incident had already occurred,” he told ANI.

Political reactions and safety concerns

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “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”.

BJP MLA Michael Lobo expressed shock over the situation, saying, “I am disturbed because of the incident. There are 23 casualties, three women and 20 men. Some are tourists, while most are locals who were working in the restaurant’s basement. We will need to conduct a safety audit of all other clubs in Goa, which is very important”.

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Adding to it he mentioned that, “Tourists have always considered Goa a very safe destination, but the fire incident is very disturbing, and such incidents should not happen in the future. The safety of tourists and the workers in these establishments is extremely important. Most people died due to suffocation as they ran towards the basement”.

Police begin probe into cause

Goa DGP Alok Kumar also addressed the media, saying, “An unfortunate incident occurred in a restaurant-cum-club in Arpora. At 12.04 am, the police control room received information about a fire and the police, fire brigade, and ambulances were rushed to the spot. The fire is now under control, and all the bodies have been recovered”.

“The total death count is 23. The police will investigate the cause of this incident, and we will take action based on the findings,” he added.

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