Fire at a Nightclub in Goa, India, Kills at Least 25

Officials said they were investigating the blaze in the southwestern state of Goa, a popular tourist destination.

At least 25 people died and six others were injured when a fire tore through a nightclub early Sunday in the coastal Indian state of Goa, a popular tourist destination.

The authorities said they were investigating the cause of the fire, and whether the club was operating without the right permissions, or without following fire safety and construction rules.

Goa’s chief minister, Pramod Sawant, told local media that he suspected the fire was related to “activities conducted illegally and without permissions,” adding that he had ordered an inquiry into whether the building followed fire regulations. The government has issued arrest warrants for the club’s owners, Mr. Sawant said in comments to ANI, a news agency.

Four tourists were among the dead. Most of the others killed were nightclub employees working in the basement, who died of burns and suffocation, the authorities said. The six injured people were in stable condition as of Sunday morning, they said.

The nightclub, Birch by Romeo Lane, was in Arpora village, near the coast of northern Goa. Footage of the fire broadcast by the local news media showed an orange inferno burning through a building as smoke billowed into the night sky.

Goa, a former Portuguese colony, is a popular destination known for its beaches, vibrant nightlife and underground art scene. The state received more than five million visitors, most of them domestic tourists, in the first half of this year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India expressed his condolences on social media and announced compensation of 200,000 rupees, or $2,220, for families of the dead and 50,000 rupees, or $555, for the injured.

Anupreeta Das contributed reporting.

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