Credit, Getty Images
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- author, Harry Sekulich
- To roll, BBC News
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At least 23 people have died in a fire at a popular nightclub in India’s coastal region of Goa, according to local authorities.
Most of the victims are believed to be employees of the Arpora club in north Goa. Tourists are also among the dead.
Police said a gas cylinder exploded in the club’s kitchen, causing flames to spread throughout the venue on Sunday (12/07) local time.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said in a statement that “this is a very painful day for all of us in Goa.”
“The fire was mainly concentrated around the kitchen on the ground floor,” said Shri Alok Kumar, Goa police chief. “The fire broke out around midnight. It is now under control.”
Most of the bodies were found near the kitchen, “which suggests that the victims were employees of the club,” said the police chief.
The Indian Express reports that the fire occurred at the Birch by Romeo Lane club in Baga, one of the most popular beaches in the area.
Emergency services were still operational early Sunday morning, local media reported.
Three people died due to burns while others died of suffocation, Sawant said.
According to him, “three or four” tourists died. Ages and nationalities were not yet known.
A formal investigation into the causes of the fire has been launched, the chief minister said.
“Those responsible will face the strictest measures under the law – any negligence will be punished vigorously. »
Goa is a former Portuguese colony located on the Arabian Sea. Its nightlife, sandy beaches and seaside resorts attract millions of tourists every year.