25 dead as massive fire erupts at Goa restaurant Birch By Romeo Lane, CM Pramod Sawant orders inquiry — Video

As many as 25 people were killed after a major fire broke out at a restaurant-cum-club in Arpora, Goa, on Sunday. Police said that four among those killed were tourists, 14 were staff, and the identity of seven people is yet to be established. The blaze was reported around midnight, and emergency teams rushed to the spot.

A massive fire broke out at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, North Goa, resulting in 25 deaths, out of whom 4 confirmed to be tourists, 14 were staff members, and the identity of seven is yet to be established," Goa police told news agency ANI.

The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, while authorities worked through the night to bring the situation under control.

Police said, “Six persons are injured, and their treatment is going on. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. The police and fire department investigation is in progress. Legal action is being taken.”

Goa DGP Alok Kumar said the police received the alert shortly after midnight.

“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,” he was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.

Police added, “The fire is now under control, and all the bodies have been recovered…”

While the state police said the blaze occurred at the nightclub due to a cylinder blast after midnight on Sunday, some of the eyewitnesses claimed the fire started on the club's first floor, where tourists were dancing.

What exactly happened at Goa nightclub?

An eyewitness told PTI that at least 100 people were on the dance floor of a nightclub in North Goa when a fire broke out there.

She said that in an attempt to escape, some of them ran downstairs to the kitchen where they got trapped along with the staff.

"There was a sudden commotion as the flames started erupting. We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames," Fatima Shaikh, a tourist from Hyderabad, was quoted by PTI as saying at Arpora in the wee hours of Sunday.

The nightclub was jam-packed as it was the weekend, and at least 100 persons were on the dance floor, she said.

Shaikh said that after the blaze erupted, some of the tourists started running downstairs and, in the melee, went to the kitchen located on the ground floor.

“They [tourists] got trapped there along with other staff. Many managed to run out of the club,” she added. In no time, the entire club was engulfed in the fire. “There was a temporary construction made up of palm leaves which easily caught fire,” she said.

Most of the dead were the club's kitchen workers, and included three women, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said. There were “three to four tourists” among those killed, he added.

Goa CM reacts

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant termed the incident a serious setback for the state and said strict action would follow. He also ordered an inquiry into the incident.

He posted on X, “The incident is very unfortunate for a tourism state like Goa. The people who run such things illegally, and a fire incident occurred...23 people have lost their lives...The government will conduct an inquiry into this incident. The inquiry will examine the exact cause of the fire, and those found responsible will face the most stringent action under the law....”

Authorities have begun a detailed investigation into the cause of the fire.

Officials said efforts are underway to provide medical support to the injured and assistance to the families of those who died.

PM Modi speaks to Goa CM, ₹2 lakh ex-gratia announced

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Pramod Sawant on Sunday after the mishap at the Goa nightclub.

“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,” PM Modi posted on X.

“Spoke to Goa CM Dr Pramod Sawant Ji about the situation. The State Government is providing all possible assistance to those affected,” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister's Office also announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each deceased in the mishap in Arpora, Goa. "The injured would be given Rs. 50,000,” the PMO said in a separate statement.