At least 23 people have died after a fire tore through a popular nightclub in North Goa’s Arpora village late on Saturday night, officials said. Most of the victims were staff members working at the venue.
Goa’s police chief Alok Kumar told news agency PTI that the blaze was triggered by a cylinder blast inside Birch by Romeo Lane, a nightclub that opened last year and is located about 25km from the state capital, Panaji.
“All the 23 bodies have been recovered,” he said, adding that the victims were almost entirely club employees. Three women were among the dead, according to chief minister Pramod Sawant.
Sawant, who visited the site shortly after the fire was brought under control, said that while three people died of burn injuries, the remaining victims appeared to have succumbed to suffocation.
He added that initial information suggested the club had not complied with fire safety norms.A devastating fire at a North Goa nightclub, Birch by Romeo Lane, claimed at least 25 lives late Saturday night, primarily club employees. Officials suspect a cylinder blast triggered the blaze, with most victims succumbing to suffocation. The Chief Minister indicated potential non-compliance with fire safety norms, promising action against management and officials. Read more
