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A tragic fire at a popular nightclub in Arpora, Goa, has claimed the lives of at least 23 people, according to officials and local media. The incident occurred just after midnight on Sunday when a gas cylinder reportedly exploded inside the building.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed that the victims included several tourists and kitchen staff working at the venue. He stated that three individuals died from severe burn injuries, while the others succumbed to suffocation caused by the rapidly spreading smoke.
Calling it “a very painful day for all of us in Goa,” Sawant announced that a full inquiry has been ordered. He assured that any negligence identified in the investigation would be met with the strictest legal action.
Images and videos circulating on social media captured scenes of chaos, with firefighters and rescue teams rushing victims to emergency vehicles as flames and thick smoke engulfed the low-rise structure.
Authorities reported that at least three of the victims were women. Police officials said that the fire is now under control and the bodies of all the victims have been recovered.
Eyewitness accounts support the gas cylinder explosion theory. A nearby security guard told ANI, “We heard a massive explosion… later we learned that the fire broke out after a cylinder blast.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, extending condolences to the families affected and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.
This incident adds to a series of fatal fires in India, often linked to overcrowded establishments, lax safety regulations, and poor building standards. In recent months, similar fires in Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Gujarat have claimed dozens of lives, raising renewed concerns over public safety.
