A fire at a popular nightclub in India's Goa state kills at least 25, officials say

"The fire occurred due to a gas cylinder blast and has been extinguished, the Press Trust of India news agency reported, quoting local police. All the bodies have been recovered. It said at least 100 people were on the club's dance floor when the fire broke out and several rushed to the kitchen below in the chaos and got trapped along with staff."

"The nightclub, located along the Arpora river backwaters, had a narrow entry and exit that forced the fire brigades to park their tankers about 400 meters away, the news agency said. The restricted access delayed firefighting efforts, it reported, citing local officials. Local village council official Roshan Redkar told the news agency that authorities had earlier issued a demolition notice for the club as it had no construction permit from the government. But higher officials rolled back the order, he said."

"The state government has ordered an inquiry into the incident to determine the exact cause of the fire and whether fire safety norms and building regulations were followed, Sawant said. Regulations are poorly enforced in India where some public sector officials cut corners, leading to safety hazards. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a social media post called the incident deeply saddening and said he spoke with Sawant about the situation."

A fire at a popular nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, killed at least 25 people, including kitchen workers and three to four tourists. Six people were injured and are in stable condition. The blaze began just past midnight and was caused by a gas cylinder blast that was later extinguished. About 100 people were on the dance floor when the fire broke out; several rushed to the kitchen and became trapped. Narrow entry and exit points forced fire brigades to park tankers about 400 meters away, delaying firefighting. A prior demolition notice existed because the club lacked a construction permit but was rolled back. The state government ordered an inquiry into cause and compliance with fire safety and building regulations. National leaders offered condolences and assistance, and gas cylinder accidents were noted as a recurring safety concern.

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