Four Tourists Among 25 Dead In Goa Nightclub Fire After Cylinder Blast

A major tragedy struck Arpora, North Goa, late Saturday night when a cylinder blast caused a massive fire in a nightclub. The explosion, which happened near the kitchen area around 1 a.m., resulted in the death of at least 25 people, all reported to be staff members of the nightclub.

Seven people got injured, and one of them has suffered burns of over 60%. Of the fatalities, only two died due to burn injuries, while the remaining victims succumbed to smoke inhalation.

“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.

The Goa Police said, “A massive fire broke out at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, North Goa, resulting

in 25 deaths, out of whom four confirmed to be tourists, 14 were staff members and identity of seven is yet to be established. Six persons are injured and their treatment going on. Cause of fire is yet to ascertained. Police and fire department investigation is in progress. Legal action is being taken.”

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. The Prime Minister 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.

What do we know about the incident?

According to Goa Police, the explosion happened around 1 a.m. near the kitchen area of the nightclub. A gas cylinder reportedly burst with great force, causing flames to shoot through the building within seconds. Officers said the intensity of the blast left the staff with very little time to escape.

Fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot, and firefighters worked for nearly two hours to bring the blaze under control. Despite their efforts, many staff members could not be rescued in time, as the fire spread rapidly through the tightly packed interior sections of the club.

Preliminary findings suggest that the blast may have been caused by a gas leak during routine preparation and closing work. Several staff members were believed to be cleaning and organising the kitchen when the incident occurred. Officials say a detailed forensic analysis will determine the exact reason behind the leak and the subsequent explosion.

The Forensic Science Laboratory team has collected samples from the site, and the district administration has launched an inquiry into the chain of events that led to the tragedy.

Nightclub sealed; owners questioned

Authorities have sealed the nightclub as part of the investigation. The owners and managers are being questioned about safety procedures, emergency exits, and whether the club followed required fire and gas safety guidelines.

The Director General of Police (DGP) said that the inquiry will examine all safety measures in place at the establishment, including gas connection installations, fire extinguishing systems, and evacuation plans.

Bodies sent for post-mortem, Injured yet to be identified

The bodies of the victims have been sent for post-mortem examinations. Officials are still assessing the number of injured persons, as detailed information has not yet been made public. Rescue teams are continuing their search through the debris to ensure no one is left trapped inside.

Fire safety audit

A fire safety audit will be carried out across all clubs in the area following the deadly blaze at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora. Local MLA Michael Lobo said all bodies have been recovered and emphasised that a thorough fire safety review will now be made mandatory. Clubs failing to present valid fire safety permissions will face cancellation of licences.