Goa nightclub fire tragedy: PM announces ₹2 lakh ex gratia for victims’ families

Panaji: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh each for the families of those killed in the devastating nightclub fire at Arpora in North Goa. The injured will receive ₹50,000 from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

A total of 25 people were killed in the blaze at Birch by Romeo Lane late Saturday night. According to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the victims include three women and three to four tourists.

Modi spoke to Sawant and assured all possible support from the Centre.

 “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,” the Prime Minister posted on X. “Spoke to Goa CM Dr Pramod Sawant Ji about the situation. The state government is providing all possible assistance to those affected.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed shock and condoled the deaths.

 “The tragic loss of lives in a fire accident in Arpora, Goa, is deeply painful,” he wrote on X, adding that rescue and relief efforts were underway.

According to an eyewitness, around 100 people were on the nightclub’s dance floor when the fire broke out. Many attempted to flee downstairs and got trapped in the kitchen area along with staff members.

While the police have cited a cylinder blast as the cause, some eyewitnesses claimed the fire began on the first floor, where tourists were dancing.

The nightclub, located along the Arpora backwaters, reportedly has a narrow entry and exit, making evacuation difficult. Fire tenders were unable to reach the premises due to constricted lanes and had to be stationed nearly 400 metres away.

A senior Fire and Emergency Services officer told PTI that the narrow access significantly hampered firefighting efforts. Most of the victims died of suffocation after being trapped on the ground floor, he added.