At least 23 people have perished after a fire erupted inside a nightclub in the Indian state of Goa, according to local media reports in the early hours of Sunday, citing sources within the state police.
The Indian Express and several media platforms reported that the majority of the victims are believed to be employees working at the nightclub, where bodies were retrieved hours after the fire broke out.
According to the Indian news agency PTI, the Chief of Police in Goa stated that preliminary investigations suggest that the fire might have been caused by a gas cylinder explosion in the kitchen area, while authorities have begun examinations to determine the exact causes.
No official announcement has been made yet about whether there are any additional injuries, while search and verification efforts are still ongoing at the site of the incident.
According to reports, the fire occurred in the coastal town of Arpora north of Goa, a popular tourist area known for its nightlife and beaches that attract visitors from within India and abroad, raising concerns about safety standards in the region's entertainment facilities.
