Delhi: In one of the deadliest fire tragedies Goa has witnessed in recent years, 23 people lost their lives after a massive blaze engulfed a popular restaurant-cum-club in Arpora late Sunday night. The fire, which erupted close to midnight, spread rapidly through the establishment, trapping several people inside as emergency teams rushed to the scene.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound grief over the incident, calling the tragedy “deeply saddening” and extending condolences to the bereaved families. He also announced immediate financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) — ₹2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for every injured victim.
In a post shared by the Prime Minister’s Office on X, PM Modi 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 further added that he had spoken to Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, assuring the State of full central support.
Goa CM Sawant visited the site early Monday morning and described the incident as “extremely unfortunate for a tourism-driven state like Goa.” He confirmed that a high-level inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the fire and to identify whether safety norms were violated. Sawant said strong action would be taken against those responsible, particularly if the club was operating without proper permissions.
Authorities worked through the night to control the flames and safely evacuate those trapped inside. Several injured victims were shifted to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention. Emergency officials stated that the intensity of the fire made rescue operations challenging.
