Goa nightclub fire highlights: Victims identified, bodies being handed over to kin; 20 of staff, 5 tourists among dead

Early findings paint a grim picture of how several risk factors came together that night. The nightclub was reportedly packed with weekend crowds inside a structure built with flammable materials, and it had only a narrow access route and restricted escape paths — a combination that left little room for error.

While investigators are still determining what sparked the initial blaze, a PTI news agency report quoting Goa Police chief Alok Kumar suggested a cylinder blast may have triggered the incident. Read the full report here.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday expressed grief over the tragic fire at a club in Arpora, Goa, which claimed 25 lives.

Kejriwal offered condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, hoping all those affected find strength during this devastating time.

In a post on X, Kejriwal wrote, "Deeply saddened by the tragic fire incident at Arpora, Goa, that has claimed several precious lives. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. May all those affected find strength and solace during this devastating time."

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge urged party workers in Goa to extend assistance to the affected families.

"I also appeal to all Congress workers in the region to extend every possible support and assistance to the affected families and to stand with them in this hour of grief," he said in his X post.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday expressed grief over the deaths caused by the massive fire at a club-cum-restaurant in Goa's Arpora, and called for a "comprehensive investigation and strict accountability".

"My deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of the 23 people who lost their lives in the tragic fire at Arpora, Goa. This avoidable, tragic incident is an irreparable loss, and I pray for the speedy recovery of all those who have been injured," Kharge wrote on X.

He described the incident as an example of administrative failure and stated that the scale of the tragedy necessitates a comprehensive investigation and strict accountability, emphasising the need for rigorous enforcement of safety rules.

BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said that those found guilty in the Goa nightclub fire tragedy “will not be spared”.
"The incident in Goa is tragic. The state government is investigating it, and those found guilty will not be spared. It is deeply saddening that so many people have lost their lives," Hussain told PTI.

CPI(M) MP V Sivadasan called for a proper inquiry into the Goa nightclub fire tragedy.
“In India, every day we are hearing such news from different parts of the nation. It is shocking that the government and its agencies are not taking proper action to prevent such incidents. Here, the proper enquiry is very necessary. The Union government and the concerned state government should take action to protect the lives of the people,” he said.

Office of the Collector, North Goa has issued emergency numbers in order to ensure effective monitoring, incident response and public grievance redressal.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said that the Goa nightclub fire tragedy is a “result” of misuse of licences.

"First of all, I would like to offer my condolences to all the families who have lost someone in this incident. I have been repeatedly appealing that local and state governments must carry out regular safety audits. Many licences are misused, and without proper safety measures and regulations, such establishments continue to operate. This tragedy is a result of that. The government must fulfil its responsibility by providing full support so their suffering can be eased as much as possible," Chaturvedi told PTI.

Goa nightclub fire: Fatima Shaikh, a tourist, 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 of the nightclub - Birch by Romeo Lane - in Arpora.

“They (tourists) got trapped there along with other staff. Many managed to run out of the club,” PTI news agency quoted Shaikh as saying.

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.

The nightclub is situated in the backwaters of the Arpora river and has a narrow entry and exit, with no access for the fire brigades to the club because of the narrow lanes and their tankers had to be parked about 400 metres away from the spot. Read more on how the nightclub became a death chamber after fire here

Leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, sought a thorough investigation into the Goa nightclub fire to hold accountable those responsible.
“Deeply pained by the tragic fire in Arpora, Goa that claimed more than 20 lives. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Gandhi wrote on X.

“This is not just an accident; it is a criminal failure of safety and governance. A thorough, transparent probe must fix accountability and ensure such preventable tragedies don’t occur again,” he added.

Jharkhand man lost two family members in the tragedy and said that he came to know about the incident in the morning.
"Those were my nephews, sons of my elder brother. So, I have come here for them. Both of them died. They worked in the restaurant's kitchen. I learned about it this morning...A neighbour also died in the fire. All of us belonged to Jharkhand," the relative told ANI.

Goa nightclub fire live updates: Congress leader Udit Raj expresses his condolences.

"I express my condolences and solidarity with the grieving families. I think more precautionary measures should be taken to avoid such incidents," Udit Raj told PTI.

Goa CM Pramod Sawant has said that an FIR has been registered against the general manager and owner of the nightclub where the fire tragedy occurred.

“An FIR has been registered against the hotel's general managers and the owner, and arrest warrants have been issued. The inquiry will thoroughly examine whether fire safety and construction norms were followed,” the CM told PTI.

Goa CM Pramod Sawant has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the nightclub fire incident.

"I have ordered a magisterial inquiry into the entire incident to identify the cause and fix responsibility," the CM wrote on X.

Visuals from the spot in Arpora where at least 25 people died after a cylinder blast triggered a nightclub fire late last night show the extent of destruction.

Even as the state counts the toll of the fire at the Birch, by Romeo Lane, attention has moved to how an ‘illegal’ nightclub was allowed to operate after local sarpanch of the village panchayat of Arpora, Roshan Redkar, revealed that the structure that the club was operating from was built without a construction licence.

“There were complaints against the club, and when we conducted an inquiry, we found that there was no construction licence. We had issued a demolition notice after following due process. However, the demolition notice was stayed upon appeal,” Redkar told reporters.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh expressed his anguish by the loss of lives in the Goa nightclub fire tragedy.

"Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire tragedy in Arpora, Goa. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon," he said on X.

According to Goa CM Pramod Sawant, 6 people have been injured in the fire incident.

"All six injured persons are in a stable condition and are receiving the best medical care. I have ordered a magisterial inquiry into the entire incident to identify the cause and fix responsibility," he wrote on X.

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Amit Patkar has called for the resignation of CM Pramod Sawant and the BJP government

“A black day in Goa’s tourism history. Shocked and deeply pained by the tragic loss of 25 innocent lives at a club in Arpora last night. This horrific incident exposes the complete collapse of safety, regulation and accountability under the Government led by Dr Pramod Sawant,” Patkar wrote on X.

“A government that cannot protect its own people has no moral right to continue. The Chief Minister must immediately resign, taking full responsibility for this catastrophic failure. My heartfelt condolences to all the bereaved families. May justice be swift and uncompromising. In view of this total breakdown of governance, we demand that the Hon’ble Governor recommend dismissal of this BJP Government under Article 356 of the Constitution of India,” he added.

Dr Avanish from Delhi, who had planned to visit the ill-fated restaurant where fire broke out, said that he was ‘lucky’.
"Actually, we got lucky because our cab driver was late or else we would be here," ANI quoted him as saying.

At least 100 persons were on the dance floor of a nightclub in North Goa when a fire broke out there, and in an attempt to escape, some of them ran downstairs to its kitchen where they got trapped along with the staff, according to an eyewitness quoted by PTI.

Eyewitness recounted hearing a loud blast before the fire engulfed the nightclub.

"We heard a massive explosion. We later learned that the fire broke out after a cylinder blast," a security guard at a restaurant near the nightclub said.

According to the preliminary findings, the fire began on the ground floor of the nightclub.

“The fire started on the ground floor of the nightclub, leaving those in the basement trapped and unable to escape, which led to their death by suffocation,” CM Pramod Sawant said, quoting preliminary findings by fire staff.

The Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa was operating on the borderlines of the law. Constructed on what was once a saltpan, the nightclub was issued demolition notices by both the local village panchayat and the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority. However, the demolition notice was stayed by the Directorate of Panchayats on appeal, allowing the club to continue to operate, HT had reported.