At least 23 people died after a fire broke out at a club in North Goa’s Arpora late Saturday night.
According to the police, the fire broke out around midnight at a club called Birch by Romeo Lane at Baga, one of the most popular beaches in the coastal state.
The fire is suspected to have been caused by a cylinder blast around midnight, said police officials. Several fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and rescue operations were underway until early Sunday morning.
Police said they believe a majority of the dead are staff employed at the club. Senior police officers, including the DGP, and police teams from North Goa district have rushed to the spot.
Goa DGP Alok Kumar said, “So far, 23 casualties have been reported. The fire occurred around midnight. It has now been brought under control. The fire was mainly concentrated around the kitchen area on the ground floor. The source and cause of the fire are yet to be ascertained. Teams are engaged in rescue and evacuation. Maximum bodies were retrieved from the kitchen area, suggesting that the victims were employed at the club. Two bodies have been found on the staircase.”