A massive fire at a nightclub in Arpora, Goa, claimed 25 lives on Sunday in the wee hours, with two victims dying from burn injuries caused by an explosion and the rest due to smoke inhalation. Among the dead, 4 were tourists. Fire was caused due to the internal electric fireworks in the club. 

 

In a late-evening briefing, Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant confirmed the arrest of four staff members of the Club. Arrest warrants have been issued against owners Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, with a Goa Police team in Delhi to apprehend them. Local sarpanch Roshan Redkar remains detained as part of the probe.

 

Chief General Manager Rajiv Modak, Manager Vivek Singh and Rajiv Singhania and Priyanshu Thakur have been arrested.

 

Sawant announced ₹5 lakh ex-gratia for families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured, Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved ₹2 lakh for the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the PMNRF.

 

A special SDM-led committee will coordinate transportation of bodies to home states of victims and to Nepal. A fact-finding committee has been directed to submit its report within a week. Disciplinary action will be undertaken against Officials responsible for the event.

CM has assured that safety audit of  clubs and such other establishments will be done. Government will also issue advisory for such establishments.

 

National leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed grief over the tragedy.