The moment a deadly fire broke out at a nightclub in Goa

[Yuletide]

The moment a deadly fire broke out at a nightclub in Goa was caught on camera by a member of the crowd.

Local officials say at least 25 people have been killed after the blaze, thought to have been sparked when a gas cylinder exploded in the kitchen, tore through the Birch by Romeo Lane club in Arpora early Sunday morning. Video shows a dancer performing on stage alongside a live band when the music stops abruptly as members of the crowd notice a fire growing from the ceiling behind the stage. Panic quickly spreads as smoke fills the room. Witnesses reported many fled to a kitchen area on a lower level, where they became trapped. Most of the victims were kitchen workers, along with several tourists, say officials.

 

[Yuletide]

Fire at popular nightclub in India's Goa state kills at least 25, officials say​

Officials say at least 25 people, including tourists, have been killed in a fire at a popular nightclub in India’s Goa state

ByThe Associated Press

December 7, 2025, 10:38 AM

NEW DELHI -- At least 25 people, including tourists, were killed in a fire at a popular nightclub in India’s Goa state, the state’s chief minister said Sunday.

The blaze occurred just past midnight in Arpora in North Goa, a party hub.

Goa’s chief minister Pramod Sawant said most of the dead were the club’s kitchen workers, as well as three to four tourists. Six were injured and are in stable condition, he said.

The fire occurred due to a gas cylinder blast and has been extinguished, the Press Trust of India news agency reported, quoting local police. All the bodies have been recovered. It said at least 100 people were on the club’s dance floor when the fire broke out and several rushed to the kitchen below in the chaos and got trapped along with staff.

The nightclub, located along the Arpora river backwaters, had a narrow entry and exit that forced the fire brigades to park their tankers about 400 meters away, the news agency said. The restricted access delayed firefighting efforts, it reported, citing local officials.

Local village council official Roshan Redkar told the news agency that authorities had earlier issued a demolition notice for the club as it had no construction permit from the government. But higher officials rolled back the order, he said.

The state government has ordered an inquiry into the incident to determine the exact cause of the fire and whether fire safety norms and building regulations were followed, Sawant said.

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Regulations are poorly enforced in India where some public sector officials cut corners, leading to safety hazards.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a social media post called the incident deeply saddening and said he spoke with Sawant about the situation. He said the state government “is providing all possible assistance to those affected” while offering condolences with the victims’ families.

Accidents involving gas cylinders aren’t uncommon in India and often result in casualties, underlining the need for authorities to implement stringent safety protocols.

Western coastal state of Goa is one of India’s most popular tourist destinations, known for its sandy beaches.