Nightclub Fire in Goa, India, Leaves 25 People Dead

Tourists and staff are among those killed in an nightclub fire in Goa.

Dec. 7, 2025

2 min read

dpa
(TNS)

New Delhi — Twenty-five people died in a fire overnight at a nightclub in the Indian tourist hotspot of Goa, with a further six injured, the chief minister of the western state, Pramod Sawant, wrote on X on Sunday.

He said he had ordered a judicial inquiry to determine the cause. Speaking to journalists, he said that possible breaches of safety regulations would also have to be examined.

At least four of the victims were tourists, the Times of India daily reported, citing police. The other victims were probably employees of the "Birch by Romeo Lane" club, it added.

The blaze occurred in the coastal town of Arpora in northern Goa, which attracts many domestic and international tourists with its beaches, vibrant nightlife and tropical climate.

Police initially suspected the fire might have been caused by the explosion of a gas cylinder in the kitchen area on the lower floor of the club. However, the cause was still unknown, the Indian Express newspaper later quoted Goa's police chief as saying.

Investigators have not ruled out that sparks from fireworks may have started the blaze, the newspaper wrote.

At the time of the incident, about 100 guests were on the first floor, where there was a dancefloor, media reported.

The club complex, which advertised itself as an "island club", reportedly stood by a side arm of the Arpora river. This made it difficult for firefighters to gain access to the burning venue, with fire engines having to park about 400 metres away.