India’s vibrant tourist hotspot, Goa, was plunged into sorrow this past Sunday following a devastating nightclub fire that claimed 25 lives and injured six. The inferno, which tragically included tourists among the deceased, broke out around midnight at a club in Arpora, a popular northern coastal area. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound sadness, calling the loss “deeply saddening.”
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant declared it “a very painful day for all of us,” confirming the casualties and ordering a magisterial inquiry to determine the cause and assign responsibility. Preliminary reports from Fire Chief Nitin V. Raiker suggest a “fire show” organized during a club party ignited wooden elements, leading to rapid smoke dispersion. Heartbreakingly, most victims died from suffocation, trapped in basement and kitchen areas, as rescuers faced challenging conditions navigating the club’s narrow staircases.
This tragic event casts a somber light on a persistent issue in India: the alarming frequency of fires often attributed to poor building standards, overcrowding, and a lack of adherence to safety regulations. Recent major blazes in Hyderabad, Kolkata, and an amusement park in Gujarat serve as stark reminders of the critical need for urgent and comprehensive safety improvements nationwide. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this heartbreaking incident.
Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/news/asia/india/news/india-nightclub-fire-kills-25-goa-4052456
