25 Dead in Arpora Nightclub Fire After Cylinder Blast

• A cylinder blast caused a massive fire at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, resulting in 25 deaths and 7 injuries.
• Among the 25 fatalities, four were tourists, 14 were staff members, and seven remain unidentified; most victims succumbed to smoke inhalation.
• The explosion occurred around 1 a.m. near the kitchen, with preliminary findings suggesting a gas leak as the cause.
• Prime Minister Modi expressed grief, assuring support and announcing ex-gratia payments for the deceased's families and injured.
• Authorities have sealed the nightclub, questioned owners, and initiated a fire safety audit across all clubs in the area.

Why It Matters: This tragedy highlights critical safety failures in public venues.