Survivors allege fireworks triggered Goa nightclub fire that killed 25

Fireworks inside a packed North Goa nightclub were likely the trigger for the blaze that killed 25 people shortly after midnight on Sunday, survivors told PTI, as officials confirmed the building’s narrow access and lack of safety permissions severely hampered rescue efforts.

Eyewitnesses said firecrackers burst during a dance performance on the first floor of Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, moments before flames spread rapidly through the club.

Riya, a tourist from Delhi who escaped, claimed the fire began after fireworks were set off inside the crowded space. “Firecrackers burst all around when dancers were performing. The fire must have been caused due to this. There was a stampede-like situation,” she said.

Another survivor, Fatima Shaikh from Hyderabad, said around 100 people were on the dance floor when panic broke out. “There was a sudden commotion as the flames started erupting. We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” she said.

The nightclub was packed due to the weekend rush, and a temporary structure made of palm leaves caught fire quickly, she added.

Narrow access blocked fire brigade vehicles

The nightclub sits along the backwaters of the Arpora river and is accessible only through a narrow lane.

Fire brigade tankers had to be parked nearly 400 metres away due to the limited access, a senior officer from the Fire and Emergency Services said.

This made controlling the blaze extremely challenging, he added.

Most deaths were caused by suffocation as victims became trapped on the ground floor while trying to escape.

Safety violations and illegal construction allegations

While police initially suspected a cylinder blast, the state government acknowledged that preliminary findings point to the fire starting on the first floor.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said congestion and small exits prevented customers from getting out. “We will take action against the club management and also against the officials who allowed it to operate despite flouting safety norms,” he said. A magistrate-led inquiry has been ordered.

Police said the deceased included four tourists and 14 staff members; seven bodies are yet to be identified.

The establishment did not possess a fire department NOC or permission to serve liquor, a Congress leader alleged.

An FIR under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita has been registered against owners Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra. The club manager and event organisers have also been booked.

Roshan Redkar, the sarpanch of Arpora-Nagoa who issued a trade licence in 2013, has been detained.

Redkar said the structure itself was unauthorised. “We had inspected the premises and found that they did not have the permission to construct the club,” he said. A demolition notice had been served, but officials of the Directorate of Panchayats stayed the order.

Families wait outside hospital morgue

Grieving relatives gathered outside Goa Medical College and Hospital, where the bodies were taken for postmortem. A group from Jharkhand said four people from their village worked as helpers and cooks at the nightclub.

They said they would not accept the bodies and demanded that the owner arrange transportation of the remains.

Another group from Assam, whose friends were among the victims, also waited for information. A senior police officer said it would take a day to complete identification and postmortem procedures before handing over the bodies.

Political reactions

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the deaths. The PMO announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

Rahul Gandhi said he was “deeply pained” by the tragedy. “This is not just an accident; it is a criminal failure of safety and governance,” he wrote on X.

AAP Goa president Amit Palekar questioned why no action was taken earlier despite alleged violations raised in the state assembly. Congress demanded CM Sawant’s resignation, with its Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakare stating that the club had not obtained a fire NOC.

The Goa Church also expressed grief over the loss of lives.

(With inputs from agencies)