Delhi Tourists' Narrow Escape from Goa Nightclub Fire: 'Cab Delay Saved Us'
Image Source: Internet
A Delhi tourist, Avanish, narrowly escaped the devastating Goa nightclub fire that claimed 25 lives, thanks to a delayed cab ride. The massive blaze, suspected to have been triggered by LPG cylinder explosions, swept through Birch by Romeo Lane in North Goa's Arpora area around midnight on Saturday. Four tourists and 14 staff members were among the victims, while seven others were either locals or their details were not confirmed. Avanish, who had planned to visit the club, said, 'We got lucky because our cab driver was late. If not, we would have been here.' Another Delhi tourist, Nikhnesh, also narrowly avoided the fire, which was triggered by a series of explosions. He had planned to attend the DJ night at the venue but turned back after learning about the fire. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with ambulances arriving at the location after the incident. Among those killed were two young men from Jharkhand who worked in the club's kitchen. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited the site and said the nightclub had been running without several mandatory permissions. Preliminary findings indicated that the fire started on the ground floor, leaving those in the basement trapped and unable to escape. The CM offered condolences to the bereaved families, calling it a 'very painful day for all of us in Goa.' The nightclub had been issued demolition notices earlier, but the order was stayed after an appeal. The incident highlights the importance of adhering to safety regulations and obtaining necessary permissions. The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, and authorities are working to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.
