News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
News
White House Unveils “Media Hall of Shame” Portal as Attacks on Press Intensify
News
Russia Launches Massive Overnight Barrage on Ukraine as Peace Talks With U.S. Continue
News
Indonesia Agrees to Repatriate Two Dutch Prisoners, Including Death Row Inmate, After Humanitarian Appeal
Indonesia and the Netherlands have reached an agreement to transfer two Dutch nationals convicted of drug offences, including one on death row and another serving a life sentence. The move follows a formal humanitarian request from the Dutch king and foreign ministry, Indonesian officials said on Tuesday.
Indonesia’s senior law minister, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, announced the decision during a signing ceremony in Jakarta. He said President Prabowo Subianto had approved the request, clearing the way for the men to be returned to the Netherlands on 8 December. A corresponding signing took place in Amsterdam, attended by Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel and representatives from both governments.
The transfer involves 74-year-old Siegfried Mets, who was sentenced to death for his role in the attempted shipment of 600,000 ecstasy pills from the Netherlands to Indonesia in 2008. Mets has spent 17 years in a Jakarta prison. The second prisoner, 65-year-old Ali Tokman, was arrested at Surabaya airport in 2014 after authorities found just over six kilograms of MDMA. He has served 11 years of his life sentence.
Indonesian officials said both men are in poor health and were considered suitable for transfer. Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia Marc Gerritsen welcomed the agreement, saying the Netherlands was “very grateful” that Jakarta had allowed the detainees to return home, adding that the decision would allow them to be closer to their families. He described the arrangement as a reflection of the strong legal and judicial cooperation between the two countries.
Indonesia has authorised several similar repatriations under President Prabowo’s administration. Recent transfers have included a Filipino detainee on death row, five Australians convicted of heroin trafficking, and two British citizens who had faced capital punishment and a life sentence for drug-related offences.
Despite its tough anti-narcotics laws, Indonesia continues to grapple with major drug-trafficking activity. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime identifies the country as a key transit point in the region, partly due to international syndicates targeting its young population. Indonesian authorities say 530 people are currently on death row, most for drug crimes, including around 100 foreign nationals.
The country has not carried out an execution since July 2016, when one Indonesian and three foreign prisoners were put to death.
-
Entertainment1 year agoMeta Acquires Tilda Swinton VR Doc ‘Impulse: Playing With Reality’
-
Business2 years agoSaudi Arabia’s Model for Sustainable Aviation Practices
-
Business2 years agoRecent Developments in Small Business Taxes
-
Home Improvement1 year agoEffective Drain Cleaning: A Key to a Healthy Plumbing System
-
Politics2 years agoWho was Ebrahim Raisi and his status in Iranian Politics?
-
Business1 year agoCarrectly: Revolutionizing Car Care in Chicago
-
Sports1 year agoKeely Hodgkinson Wins Britain’s First Athletics Gold at Paris Olympics in 800m
-
Business1 year agoSaudi Arabia: Foreign Direct Investment Rises by 5.6% in Q1
