A fire that swept through a popular nightclub in India’s Goa Arpora village shortly after midnight on Sunday has killed 25 people, including several tourists, and injured six others. The blaze broke out in the well-known party destination about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed that most of the victims were members of the kitchen staff, along with three to four tourists. He said all bodies had been recovered and the injured were stable.

Early accounts of the cause vary. Local police, quoted by the Press Trust of India, said the fire may have been triggered by a gas cylinder explosion. Eyewitnesses told the agency they saw the flames begin on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were gathered on the dance floor. They said panic sent people rushing toward the kitchen below, where many became trapped.

“We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” eyewitness Fatima Shaikh said.

Firefighters struggled to reach the building because of its narrow entry and exit points, forcing them to station their tankers about 400 metres away.

Sawant said the nightclub had violated fire safety rules, and the state would investigate both the cause of the blaze and who allowed the venue to operate despite the infractions.

“Some of them rushed to the ground floor and got trapped there,” he said, describing the crowding and narrow exits that prevented people from escaping. He promised action against the management and “the officials who allowed it to operate despite flouting safety norms.”

A preliminary inquiry, according to PTI, suggested the fire originated on the first floor. Local village council official Roshan Redkar said the club had previously been issued a demolition notice for lacking a construction permit, which was later overturned by higher authorities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the fire “deeply saddening,” saying he had spoken with Sawant and that the state government was providing assistance. “My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones,” he said, adding that he hoped the injured would recover quickly.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi described the incident as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability.

The tragedy highlights ongoing concerns over safety standards in India, where accidents caused by gas cylinders, electrical faults and overcrowded venues remain common. Goa, one of India’s top tourist destinations, draws millions of visitors each year to its beaches and nightlife.