A devastating fire broke out at a restaurant in Arpora, North Goa, late Saturday night, killing 25 people. Dramatic visuals showed the building engulfed in flames with thick smoke rising into the sky. Firefighters and emergency teams rushed to the scene and worked tirelessly to bring the blaze under control.
Victims Mostly Local Staff, Some Tourists
BJP MLA Michael Lobo expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, confirming that the victims included three women and 20 men. While a few were tourists, most were local staff working in the basement of the restaurant. Lobo emphasized the need for urgent safety audits at all clubs and restaurants in Goa to prevent such incidents. “Most people died due to suffocation as they ran towards the basement,” he said.
A local resident who heard the explosion described the chaos. “When I was heading home, I heard an explosion. Later, we saw ambulances arriving at the spot. When we reached the location, we saw that the incident had already occurred,” the resident said.
In a tragic incident, 23 people, including tourists, died after a massive fire broke out at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora on Saturday at midnight. The govt has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The incident took place at around 11:45 pm on Saturday. @TOIGoaNews pic.twitter.com/egZlToW1jF
— murari shetye (@murarishetye) December 6, 2025
Police and Emergency Response
Goa Director General of Police (DGP) told ANI that the first alert reached the police control room at 12:04 a.m. “Police, fire brigade, and ambulances were rushed to the spot immediately. The fire is now under control, and all the bodies have been recovered,” he confirmed.
A video shows the aftermath of the horrific fire that broke out at a restaurant in North Goa’s Arpora, claiming the lives of 25 people
#WATCH | Goa | Aftermath of the fire that broke out at a restaurant in North Goa’s Arpora, claiming the lives of 23 people. pic.twitter.com/v6qleY5WJX
— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2025
CM Pramod Sawant Calls Incident ‘Extremely Unfortunate’
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited the site early Sunday morning. Expressing deep grief, he announced that a full inquiry would be conducted. “Today is a very painful day for all of us in Goa. A major fire incident at Arpora has taken the lives of 23 people. I am deeply grieved,” Sawant wrote on X.
He added that the investigation would focus on determining the exact cause of the fire and whether the restaurant had complied with fire safety and building regulations. “Those found responsible will face the most stringent action,” he said.
Also Read: Cylinder Blast Sparks Nightclub Fire in Goa, Leaving 25 Dead, Among Them Tourists
PM Modi Offers Condolences and Support
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his sorrow over the tragedy. In a post on X, he said, “The fire mishap in Arpora, Goa is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest.” He mentioned that he had spoken to the Chief Minister and assured full support from the Central Government to the state and affected families.
The fire mishap in Arpora, Goa is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to Goa CM Dr. Pramod Sawant Ji about the situation. The State Government is providing all possible assistance to those…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 7, 2025
A video from the WarHorizon account has surfaced on social media, showing the severity of the horrific blaze.
23 people were killed in a fire at a popular nightclub in Goa‼️ https://t.co/gr5fRnyOks pic.twitter.com/9KCJJu44tn
— #𝕎𝕒𝕣 ℍ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕫𝕠𝕟 (@WarHorizon) December 7, 2025
