NEW DELHI: The fire at a nightclub in Goa, which killed 25 people, started after fireworks were set off inside, chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Sunday.Police had earlier suggested that a cylinder blast caused the blaze, but Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant said the preliminary inquiry showed the fire was triggered by electrical firecrackers set off inside the Arpora club.
“According to the preliminary inquiry, the fire broke out due to the bursting of some electrical firecrackers inside the club. Some people could come out, but others could not, due to which they lost their lives. A complete inquiry is being done, and a report will be recieved within a week. Suspensions will be issued to some people today itself. The concerned officers will be punished as well,” Sawant told reporters.Riya, a tourist from Delhi who managed to escape, also told news agency PTI that firecrackers were going off near the stage while dancers were performing. “I think the fire started because of that. People began pushing, and it felt like a stampede,” she said.‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, turned into a death trap shortly after midnight as a massive fire tore through it, killing 25 people and injuring six.The nightclub is located along the Arpora river backwaters and has a narrow entry and exit. Fire brigade vehicles could not reach the spot due to the narrow lanes, and tankers had to be parked nearly 400 metres away.According to police, the dead include four tourists and 14 staff members. The identities of seven others are still being confirmed. The incident has raised serious questions about alleged illegal operations and safety violations. Police have registered an FIR against the owners, and a local village official has claimed that the structure itself was illegal.
