Goa Nightclub Fire Kills 23; Eyewitness: Blaze Began on Dance Floor

• A fire at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in North Goa killed 23 people, including 4 tourists and several kitchen workers.
• Eyewitnesses reported the fire started on the dance floor, trapping many in the kitchen as they tried to escape.
• Police attribute the blaze to a cylinder blast in the kitchen, while eyewitnesses claim it began on the first floor.
• Narrow access roads hampered fire brigade efforts, and the club reportedly lacked fire safety norms.
• Goa CM Pramod Sawant ordered an inquiry, noting the club had construction and safety violations.

Why It Matters: Deadly nightclub fire reveals severe safety violations and regulatory failures.