A devastating fire tore through a popular nightclub in Goa, India, killing at least 25 people.
Most of the victims were staff members who became trapped in an underground kitchen while trying to escape the flames, according to a CNN report.
The blaze erupted around midnight on Saturday at Birch by Romeo Lane, located in Arpora village.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the fire likely started because of indoor fireworks.
Witnesses recalled that the dancefloor had been packed when the flames first appeared.
As the fire grew, it reportedly reached flammable materials and triggered an explosion.
This blast caused the flames to spread even faster through the venue’s furniture.
Sawant explained that the nightclub had only two exits, and panicked guests rushed toward them as thick smoke filled the building.
A group that couldn’t escape moved to the underground kitchen, where 23 of the 25 victims died from smoke inhalation.
Read more: Allan Andersn Unveils “Senafas” as New Malaysia Drama OST
Aftermath of the Nightclub Fire
Local authorities stated that 20 of the dead were employees and five were tourists.
Goa’s Health Minister, Vishwajit Rane, explained that medical teams spent the entire night tending to the injured.
He added that by Sunday, six people were still receiving treatment at Goa Medical College.
He added that the massive amount of smoke entering the kitchen caused most of the suffocation deaths.
A Kazakh belly dancer named Kristina had been performing when the fire began.
She later explained that she believed a short circuit had started the fire.
She added that she managed to escape only because a crew member quickly led her to safety.
Police have arrested four staff members in connection with the tragedy, according to Director General of Goa Police Alok Kumar.
Officers have also issued arrest warrants for the nightclub’s two owners.
He responded to the tragedy by calling for a full investigation.
Sawant wanted officials to determine whether the venue had followed fire safety rules and complied with building regulations.
He noted that the club’s owners had never received permission to construct the building.
Although officials had issued a demolition notice earlier, the order was later put on hold.
Nitin Raiker, who leads the state’s Fire and Emergency Services, later explained to News18 that the club had never secured the mandatory No Objection Certificate.
He added that the venue also ignored several fire safety regulations, a lapse that now sits at the center of the investigation.
He said his team extinguished the fire within 30 minutes but confirmed that the venue had ignored key safety norms.
