At least 23 people were killed in a devastating fire at a nightclub in North Goa late Saturday night, following a cylinder blast, police confirmed. Most of the victims were kitchen staff, including three women, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said. Among the dead were “three to four tourists,” he added.

According to Mr. Sawant, three people died from burn injuries while the others succumbed to suffocation. The blaze broke out at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora village, around 25 km from the state capital, Panaji, shortly after midnight.

Preliminary reports indicate that the nightclub had not complied with fire safety regulations. “We will take action against both the club management and the officials who allowed it to operate despite flouting safety norms,” the Chief Minister stated.

Goa Pol

See Full Page