Horror Goa nightclub fire kills 25 as footage shows blaze engulfing stage

Wild footage has captured the moment a massive fire engulfed a packed nightclub within minutes in a popular tourist area in Goa. SEE THE VIDEO

Horror footage has captured the moment a massive blaze tore through a popular Indian nightclub in Goa, killing at least 25 people.

Tourists and staff members were among the dead in the fire, which ripped through the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora.

Footage shows musicians playing on stage when a small blaze broke out before engulfing the entire club within minutes.

Local police said the fire started when a gas cylinder exploded near the kitchen area, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

Flames are seen engulfing the nightclub in Arpora, Goa. Picture: AP

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it is not aware of any Australians involved in the deadly fire.

In the wake of the blaze, which saw scores of nightclub staff trapped in the kitchen of the club, the Jharkhand government has ordered a safety audit of all bars, restaurants, hotels, and hospitals in the state.

District authorities have been directed to submit a report within seven days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the deaths were “deeply saddening”.

A general view shows the burned nightclub following a fire that broke out in Goa. Picture: AFP

Goa, a former Portuguese colony on the shores of the Arabian Sea, lures millions of tourists every year with its night-life, sandy beaches and laid-back coastal atmosphere.

“Today is a very painful day for all of us,” Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant said, confirming that “25 people have lost their lives and six have been injured.”

A DFAT spokesperson said it stood ready to provide consular assistance to any Australian citizen should it be requested.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with those affected by the tragic fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane bar in Goa,” the spokesperson said.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is not aware of any Australians involved in the reported fire in Goa.”

The charred interiors of the nightclub. Picture: AP

Mr Sawant earlier told media that “three to four” tourists had died in the fire, however he did not reveal their nationalities.

“I have ordered a magisterial inquiry into the entire incident to identify the cause and fix responsibility,” he said.

Five tourists who were visiting the state have now been identified as victims.

Of the five tourists, four were from Delhi — including three members of the same family — while the fifth victim hailed from Karnataka, reported Times of India.

All 25 victims of the Goa nightclub fire have now been identified, authorities confirmed.

Among them were 20 staff members working at the club who could not escape in time.

Three senior Goa government officials, including the then Director of Panchayat, have been suspended for their role in permitting the operations of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, a senior officer said.

“According to the preliminary inquiry, the fire broke out due to the bursting of some electrical firecrackers inside the club. Some people could come out, but others could not, due to which they lost their lives. A complete inquiry is being done, and a report will be received within a week. Suspensions will be issued to some people today itself. The concerned officers will be punished as well,” Mr Sawant told reporters.

A firefighter attempts to contain the fire. Picture: AP

Video images from the Press Trust of India news agency showed rescuers carrying the injured or dead on stretchers down the narrow stone staircase of the Birch nightclub.

“Most people died due to suffocation in the basement and kitchen area,” Nitin V. Raiker, Goa’s fire chief, told Indian broadcaster CNN News18.

“I received information that there was a club party going on, and a fire show was organised in the club. The wooden parts of the club caught fire, and smoke spread throughout the building.”

Health and Disaster Management Minister Irfan Ansari stated, “This government, under the leadership of CM Hemant Soren, will not tolerate any negligence. If an incident like the Goa happens in Jharkhand, officials will be held accountable,” as quoted by The Times of India.

Hotels and restaurants must maintain strict kitchen hygiene, carry out regular technical inspections of gas pipelines, stoves, and chimneys, and ensure that fire safety equipment and emergency exits are fully functional.

Police personnel stand guard outside a nightclub following the fire. Picture: AFP

Fires are common in India due to poor building practices, overcrowding and a lack of adherence to safety regulations.

In May, at least 17 people died after a fire ripped through a three-storey building in the Indian city of Hyderabad.

A month before that, a fierce blaze broke out in a hotel in Kolkata, killing at least 15 people. Some people clambered out of windows and onto the rooftop to escape.

And last year, at least 24 people died after a fire broke out at a packed amusement park arcade in the western state of Gujarat.

– with AFP

Originally published as Horror Goa nightclub fire kills 25 as footage shows blaze engulfing stage