BENGALURU: Indian officials on Sunday launched an inquiry and announced compensation for victims after a fire tore through a nightclub in the western state of Goa, leaving 25 people dead.
Police were notified of the blaze at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at 12:04am, according to Goa’s police chief, who spoke to ANI news agency. Emergency responders worked overnight to contain the flames, and all bodies were eventually recovered.
Photos and videos circulating locally and on social media showed firefighters battling the fire as ambulances waited outside. Reuters was unable to immediately confirm whether the imagery was from the club.
“Most people died due to suffocation in the basement and kitchen area,” Nitin V. Raiker, Goa’s fire chief, told Indian broadcaster CNN News18.
“I received information that there was a club party going on, and a fire show was organised in the club. The wooden parts of the club caught fire, and smoke spread throughout the building.”
Four tourists among dead; Modi announces compensation
Police told ANI that at least four victims were tourists while 14 were members of the nightclub staff. Police did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for further details.
Goa once a Portuguese colony and located along the Arabian Sea attracts millions of visitors each year for its beaches, nightlife and relaxed vibe. Around 5.5 million tourists, including 271,000 international travellers, visited the state in the first six months of the year, government figures show.
“Today is a very painful day for all of us,” Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said in a statement, adding that “25 people have lost their lives and six have been injured.” Speaking to reporters, Sawant also said that “three to four” tourists had died, without identifying their nationalities.
He noted that the six wounded individuals were stable and receiving treatment.
“I have ordered a magisterial inquiry into the entire incident to identify the cause and fix responsibility,” Sawant added.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had spoken with CM Sawant and extended sympathies to the families affected. Modi posted on X that his office would provide compensation of up to 200,000 rupees ($2,200) to each victim’s family and 50,000 rupees to those injured.
