A deadly fire that broke out on Saturday night at a club on Romeo Lane in North Goa occurred at a venue that lacked the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) and violated fire safety norms, Director of Fire & Emergency Services Nitin V. Raiker said on Sunday.
According to Raiker, most of the 25 people who died in the Arpora nightclub fire in North Goa succumbed to suffocation. He stated that the blaze, triggered during a club party with a fire show, spread through the wooden structures of the building, and smoke descended to the basement where many victims were trapped.
“Most people died due to suffocation in the basement and kitchen area. 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. The smoke descended to the basement, and many people died due to suffocation. They had not obtained any fire NOC, and no fire protection measures were followed. The department had not granted any fire NOC for running this club,” he told CNN New18.
Raiker further said that fire services rushed to the spot immediately after the incident was reported and the blaze was brought under control within half an hour.
“The incident happened at 12:30 am. We received the information that there is some fire incident at Romeo Lane. Fire services were rushed towards the spot immediately. In half an hour we extinguished the fire,” he said.
According to the Goa Police, the death toll in the Arpora nightclub fire has risen to 25. The victims include four tourists and 14 members of the club’s staff, while the identities of seven others are yet to be established.
#BreakingNews | Goa Police Issues Statement, Death Toll Rises To 25 After Goa Nightclub Cylinder Blast
4 Tourist, 14 Club Crew Among Dead, Identity Of 7 Yet To Be Established
Vivek Gupta And @mayuganapatye Shares More Details
Nitin V. Raiker, Director, Fire & Emergency… pic.twitter.com/jMcYTNBBsK
— News18 (@CNNnews18) December 7, 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the Arpora nightclub fire, calling it a “deeply saddening” tragedy. He said he had spoken to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and assured full support.
PM Modi also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the families of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the incident.
Describing the incident as “very painful day” for the state, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday promised swift action for those found responsible for a fire.
The death toll was reported to be 23 at first, and has risen to 25 now.
“Today is a very painful day for all of us in Goa. A major fire incident at Arpora has taken the lives of 23 people. I am deeply grieved and offer my heartfelt condolences to all the bereaved families in this hour of unimaginable loss,” he wrote on X.
“I visited the incident site and have ordered an inquiry into this incident. The inquiry will examine the exact cause of the fire and whether fire safety norms and building rules were followed. Those found responsible will face most stringent action under the law- any negligence will be dealt with firmly,” CM Sawant added.
In a separate post, the Goa CM said that the PM spoke to him on the phone about the matter. “The Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri @narendramodi ji, spoke to me regarding the tragic fire incident at Arpora, and I apprised him of the current situation on the ground. The Government of Goa is extending all assistance to the affected families, during this difficult time,” he wrote.
