Goa Nightclub Fire Kills 25: Victims Identified as Staff After Gas Cylinder Explosion

GOA, INDIA — A catastrophic fire tore through a popular nightclub in Goa, resulting in the deaths of 25 people, according to local officials. The blaze ripped through the Birch by Romeo Lane venue near a popular beach at midnight local time on Saturday, shocking the coastal region’s bustling nightlife.

Police believe the inferno began with a gas cylinder explosion in the club’s kitchen, causing the fire to spread rapidly through the packed venue, which was hosting a Bollywood specialist DJ.

Goa’s Director General of Police, Alok Kumar, confirmed the high death toll and the likely identity of the victims. “The fire was mainly concentrated around the kitchen area on the ground floor,” he said, adding that most bodies were found near the kitchen, “suggesting that the victims were employed at the club.”

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told journalists that while three to four tourists also perished, the majority of the dead were staff. Three victims died from burn injuries, while others were killed by suffocation. Six people are currently in a stable condition in the hospital.

Witnesses described horrific scenes of panic in the densely packed area, which is lined with similar nightspots. One eyewitness who was outside the club when the fire broke out recalled hearing screams: “In a bit, it became clear that a massive fire had broken out. The scenes were just horrific.”

The personal toll is immense, with a chef from a nearby venue expressing deep concern for friends who worked at Birch, noting that many staff in Goa’s clubs come from all over India and Nepal.

Rescue workers transported the victims’ bodies to Goa Medical College in Panaji for identification.

The tragedy drew condolences from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called the fire “deeply saddening.”

Chief Minister Sawant has announced an inquiry into the cause of the fire, pledging stringent action against those responsible. “Those found responsible will face most stringent action under the law – any negligence will be dealt with firmly,” he stressed, signaling the government’s commitment to accountability.

The incident is the latest in a worrying trend of deadly fires at Indian entertainment venues, with a hotel blaze in Kolkata and an amusement park fire in Gujarat also claiming dozens of lives in recent years due to poor safety standards.