At least 23 people lost their lives after a gas cylinder exploded at a well-known nightclub in Goa. The explosion caused a massive fire at the location. It happened around midnight on Sunday in Arpora village, located in North Goa district, according to PTI.
The fire spread quickly and caused panic. Several people were trapped inside the club as smoke and flames filled the area.
Chief Minister Confirms Incident
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the tragic news. He said that many of the victims were tourists, along with kitchen staff working at the venue.
He shared his grief on X and wrote, “Today is a very painful day for all of us in Goa. A major fire incident at Arpora has taken the lives of 23 people.”
Sawant later visited the site to assess the situation. He also announced a full investigation into the cause of the disaster. “I visited the incident site and have ordered an inquiry into this incident,” he said. “Those found responsible will face the most stringent action under the law – any negligence will be dealt with firmly.”
Today is a very painful day for all of us in Goa. A major fire incident at Arpora has taken the lives of 23 people.
— Dr. Pramod Sawant (@DrPramodPSawant) December 6, 2025
I am deeply grieved and offer my heartfelt condolences to all the bereaved families in this hour of unimaginable loss.
I visited the incident site and have…
Videos and photos on social media showed emergency teams arriving with fire engines, ambulances, and rescue vehicles.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared his condolences on X. He wrote,"The fire mishap in Arpora, Goa is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to Goa CM Dr. Pramod Sawant Ji about the situation. The State Government is providing all possible assistance to those affected."
The fire mishap in Arpora, Goa is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to Goa CM Dr. Pramod Sawant Ji about the situation. The State Government is providing all possible assistance to those…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 7, 2025
Cause of Death Revealed
While speaking to reporters at the location, the Chief Minister shared more details. He said that “three to four” tourists had died in the blaze. He explained, “Three people died from burn injuries, while the others died from suffocation.”
Sawant also stated that at least three women were among the victims.
Authorities later confirmed that the fire started after a gas cylinder exploded at a nightclub called Birch, located near Romeo Lane. The club had only started operating last year and was known as a popular party destination.
Nightclub Ignored Fire Safety Rules
The Chief Minister also stressed that the nightclub did not follow the required fire safety rules. He stated clearly that the venue had failed to meet the safety standards.
Goa Police Chief Alok Kumar also shared his findings with PTI. He confirmed that the fire was caused by the cylinder blast and said the situation was brought under control soon after.
Bodies Recovered and Sent for Examination
Local BJP MLA Michael Lobo released a separate statement. He confirmed that “All the 23 bodies have been recovered from the premises and sent to the government medical college at Bambolim.”
This was done for formal identification and post-mortem examinations.
Clubs to Face Safety Checks
After the tragic incident, the authorities decided to take strict action. Lobo said that officials would now carry out a full fire safety audit of all clubs in the area to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Calangute panchayat will issue notices to all nightclubs on Monday. These notices will ask club owners to show valid fire safety permissions.
Lobo also warned, “The licenses of clubs not having the necessary permissions will be cancelled.”