The charred interior of a nightclub that caught fire early Sunday morning in Arpora, Goa, India, Sunday, December 7, 2025. (AP Photo)
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NEW DELHI – At least 25 people, including tourists, were killed in a fire at a popular nightclub in the Indian state of Goa, the state's chief minister said Sunday.
The fire broke out around midnight in Arpora, a party hub in north Goa.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said most of the dead were the club's kitchen staff and three to four tourists. Six were injured and are in stable condition, he said.
The fire was caused by a gas cylinder explosion and was extinguished, the Press Trust of India news agency reported, citing local police. All bodies have been found. It said at least 100 people were on the club's dance floor when the fire broke out, with some rushing to the kitchen below in the chaos and becoming trapped with staff.
The nightclub, located in the backwaters of the Arpora River, had a narrow entrance and exit, forcing firefighters to park their tankers about 400 meters away, the news agency reported. Limited access delayed efforts to extinguish the fire, the agency said, citing local officials.
Local village council spokesman Roshan Redkar told the news agency that authorities had earlier issued a demolition notice for the club because it did not have planning permission from the government. However, higher officials overturned the order, he said.
The state government has ordered an investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause of the fire and compliance with fire safety and building norms, Sawant said.
The rules are poorly enforced in India, where some public sector officials flout the rules, leading to security risks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a social media post, called the incident deeply sad and said he had spoken to Sawant about the situation. He said the state government was “providing all possible assistance to the victims” while expressing condolences to the families of the victims.
Accidents involving gas cylinders are common in India and often result in casualties, highlighting the need for authorities to maintain strict safety protocols.
The western coastal state of Goa is one of India's most popular tourist destinations, known for its sandy beaches.
