A deadly fire at a packed nightclub in India’s coastal state of Goa has claimed at least 25 lives, with officials saying preliminary investigations point to indoor “electrical fireworks” as the likely cause.
The blaze broke out shortly after midnight on Saturday at the Birch nightclub in Arpora, a busy tourist area in North Goa, where witnesses say scores of revellers were on the dance floor when flames suddenly erupted.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said early findings suggest the fire started when electrical fireworks ignited flammable materials inside the venue, triggering a blast that caused the flames to spread rapidly through furniture and décor.
“As per the preliminary inquiry, electrical fireworks at the restaurant caused the fire,” Sawant said, explaining that the situation worsened once the flames reached combustible substances inside the club.
Panic quickly followed. With only two exit points, many people struggled to escape. According to the chief minister, a group of revellers and staff who could not reach the exits fled to an underground kitchen in search of safety. Thick smoke soon filled the enclosed space.
“Due to massive smoke entering the kitchen, 23 of the 25 people who took shelter there died of suffocation,” Sawant said.
Authorities believe at least 20 of the victims were staff members, including three Nepali nationals. Five tourists were also killed, among them three members of the same family. Officials confirmed that four of the tourists were from India’s capital territory, Delhi, while one was from the southern state of Karnataka.
Six people remain hospitalised at Goa Medical College, where doctors say they are receiving intensive treatment.
Police have arrested four staff members in connection with the incident, while arrest warrants have been issued for the nightclub’s two owners, according to Goa Police Director General Alok Kumar.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as the fire took hold. One tourist told Indian broadcaster News18 that the club was “jam-packed,” with at least 100 people on the dance floor. Another witness said a temporary structure decorated with palm leaves caught fire almost instantly, accelerating the blaze.
Goa, famed for its beaches, nightlife and Portuguese-era heritage, attracts millions of domestic and international visitors each year. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the tourism-dependent state.
“Today is a very painful day for all of us in Goa,” Chief Minister Sawant wrote on X, as images of fire engines and ambulances flooded social media.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “deeply saddening” and announced financial assistance for victims’ families. The federal government will provide up to 200,000 rupees ($2,200) to each bereaved family and 50,000 rupees ($556) to those injured.
“My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones,” Modi said, wishing the injured a swift recovery.
