Goa Nightclub Inferno Claims 23 Lives Amid Safety Gaps
Image Source: Internet
A devastating fire broke out at a popular nightclub in North Goa, claiming at least 23 lives, including 20 kitchen staff and three tourists. The blaze occurred at Birch by Romeo Lane, a crowded party venue in Arpora village, in the early hours of Sunday. Eyewitnesses described the chaotic scene as flames engulfed the club, with many trapped in the kitchen on the ground floor. According to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, 20 of the deceased were kitchen workers, including three women, while three tourists also lost their lives in the tragedy. The cause of the fire is attributed to a cylinder blast, but some eyewitnesses claim the flames started on the club's first floor, where tourists were dancing. The narrow entry and exit points of the club, situated in the backwaters of the Arpora river, hindered the efforts of the fire brigade to reach the spot. The authorities had to park their tankers 400 meters away due to the narrow lanes. The majority of the deaths were caused by suffocation, as the victims remained trapped on the ground floor. An investigation has been ordered by the Chief Minister, and action will be taken against the club management and the authorities who allowed the establishment to function without adhering to fire safety norms. The local panchayats have announced a fire safety audit of all nightclubs in the area to prevent such incidents in the future.
