NEW DELHI: A devastating fire at a well-known nightlife venue in North Goa’s Arpora claimed at least 25 lives late Saturday, in one of the deadliest such incidents the coastal state has witnessed in recent years.
The blaze erupted around midnight at Birch by Romeo Lane, a club in the bustling Baga area that draws large crowds due to its proximity to one of Goa’s most frequented beaches.
According to police officials, the inferno is suspected to have been triggered by a cylinder explosion inside the premises.
The sudden blast is believed to have left little time for those inside, many of them staff members, to escape.
Fire tenders from multiple stations were immediately deployed, and firefighters battled the flames well into the early hours of Sunday. Rescue teams continued their efforts until dawn, sifting through debris in search of survivors and attempting to control residual hotspots.
Authorities confirmed that a significant number of the deceased were employees working at the club when the incident occurred. Senior officials, including the Director General of Police and teams from North Goa district, arrived at the site shortly after the fire was reported to coordinate rescue and relief operations.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy.