Indian authorities have launched an investigation and announced compensation for victims after a fire tore through a nightclub in the western state of Goa on Sunday, claiming 25 lives.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated on X that he had ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident to determine its cause and hold those responsible accountable. He added that six people injured in the fire are in stable condition and receiving medical treatment.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and said he had spoken to Sawant about the tragedy. Modi also announced on X that the government would provide compensation of up to 200,000 rupees ($2,200) to each family of the deceased and 50,000 rupees to those who were injured.
The authorities worked through the night to bring the fire under control, and all the bodies have been recovered, ANI reported.
Images on local and social media showed firefighters dousing flames and ambulances lining up. Reuters could not immediately verify whether the images were from the nightclub.
At least four of the dead were tourists and 14 were club staff, police told ANI, in which Reuters holds a minority stake. Police did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Goa, a small coastal state, is a popular tourist destination especially among foreigners, offering beaches and hilly landscapes. About 5.5 million tourists, including 271,000 from abroad, visited Goa in the first half of the year, according to government data.
Source: Dunya News
