A devastating fire at a nightclub in Arpora, Goa, on Saturday night has killed at least 23 people. Police have expressed preliminary suspicion that the blaze was caused by a gas cylinder explosion.

Some of those who died were tourists, while most of the victims were staff members working at the club, according to police.

According to news agency PTI, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated that most of the deceased were employees working in the nightclub’s kitchen. Three women are among the dead.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and President Droupadi Murmu have all expressed grief over the incident. In a message on X, Prime Minister Modi conveyed his condolences and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. He also said he had spoken to Chief Minister Sawant regarding the situation and that the state government was providing necessary assistance.

The Prime Minister’s Office announced financial aid of ₹2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 each for the injured.

Incident Occurred Around Midnight
According to Goa DGP Alok Kumar, the police control room received a call at 12:04 a.m. reporting the fire. Fire brigade units and ambulances arrived at the scene immediately. Most of the bodies were found in the kitchen area, and a detailed investigation into the cause of the fire is underway, he said.

Eyewitness security guards stated that the fire broke out suddenly between 11 p.m. and midnight with a loud noise. A security guard from a nearby restaurant told ANI that the sound was similar to a vehicle tire burst, but it was later discovered that it was caused by a cylinder explosion.

According to DGP Kumar, most of the deceased were employees of the club’s restaurant, and a few tourists may also be among the victims.

Chief Minister Sawant said initial data indicates that the nightclub had not met required fire safety standards. Among the 23 deceased were three women and three to four foreign nationals. Three people died from burns, while the others died due to suffocation.

BJP MLA Michael Lobo also stated that among the 23 victims, three were women and 20 were men, including some identified tourists. Most of the victims were local employees working in the basement.

Officials have already launched a detailed investigation into the incident. Financial and medical assistance efforts for the injured and families of the victims are ongoing.

Concerns Over Fire Safety Standards
The incident has raised questions regarding fire safety measures in other clubs across Goa. BJP MLA Lobo stressed that safety audits should be made mandatory for all clubs. According to him, ensuring the safety of tourists in Goa is extremely important, and immediate measures must be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.