A tragic fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa, India, has claimed the lives of 25 people, as confirmed by local officials. The nightclub, situated near a popular beach, was reportedly the site of a catastrophic gas cylinder explosion in the kitchen area, which caused a fire to spread rapidly through the venue around midnight on Saturday.
Most of the victims are believed to be club staff, with tourists also among the deceased. On Sunday morning, the death toll increased from the initial count of 23. Witnesses have shared with the BBC harrowing scenes of panic in the vibrant nightlife district during the incident.
Goa's Director General of Police, Alok Kumar, stated that the fire was primarily concentrated around the kitchen area on the ground floor, where most of the bodies were discovered. This fact suggests many victims were employees of the nightclub. In a statement, Goa's Chief Minister Pramod Sawant revealed that three individuals succumbed to burn injuries, with the remaining victims dying from suffocation. Although 'three to four' tourists were reported among the dead, specific details regarding their ages or nationalities were not disclosed. Currently, six individuals are receiving treatment in hospital and are in stable condition.
The local authorities have launched a rescue operation and are continuing their investigation at the scene on Sunday morning.