Indian authorities have launched an investigation and pledged compensation to victims following a devastating fire at a nightclub in Goa, which claimed 25 lives.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced on X the initiation of a magisterial probe to determine the fire’s cause and assign accountability in Arpora village. He confirmed that six injured individuals are in stable condition and receiving medical treatment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolences to the affected families after speaking with Sawant. He stated on X that his office will provide compensation of up to 200,000 rupees ($2,200) to each victim’s family and 50,000 rupees to the injured.
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The fire at Birch by Romeo Lane club was reported to police at 12:04 a.m. (1834 GMT on Saturday), according to Goa’s police chief via ANI news agency.
Authorities worked tirelessly overnight to control the blaze, and all bodies have been retrieved, ANI reported.
Local and social media images depicted firefighters battling flames and ambulances on standby. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of these images.
Police indicated that at least four victims were tourists and 14 were club employees, as reported by ANI, in which Reuters holds a minority interest. Police did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Goa, known for its beaches and hills, is a favored tourist locale, attracting many international visitors. Government data shows around 5.5 million tourists, including 271,000 foreigners, visited Goa in the first half of the year. ($1 = 89.9340 Indian rupees)
