Goa fire tragedy: 25 dead, President, PM Modi express deep grief over the incident

A devastating fire tore through a restaurant-cum-club in Arpora, North Goa, late Sunday, resulting in the tragic deaths of 25 people. The blaze, reportedly triggered by a massive cylinder explosion, has severely marred the state's popular tourist season.

President Droupadi Murmu also expressed profound sorrow over the Arpora fire, which tragically claimed 23 lives. Sharing her distress on X, she said she was "deeply pained by the tragic fire incident... resulting in the loss of precious lives." The President conveyed her "heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families" and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing his profound sorrow, called the incident "deeply saddening." He conveyed his thoughts to the bereaved families via an X post, wishing the injured a swift recovery. The Prime Minister confirmed he spoke with Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant about the situation, assuring all necessary government assistance is being provided.

Chief Minister Sawant declared it a "very painful day" for the state and ordered an immediate, strict inquiry. He vowed the "most stringent action" against anyone found responsible for negligence, highlighting that preliminary information suggests a failure to follow fire safety norms.

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BJP MLA Michael Lobo confirmed that most of the dead were staff members who succumbed to suffocation while seeking refuge in the basement. He also mandated an urgent safety audit of all clubs in Goa to prevent such a catastrophic incident from recurring, underscoring the importance of worker and tourist safety.