The owners of a Goa nightclub reportedly fled to Phuket hours after a weekend fire killed 25 people, most of them staff, including four Nepali nationals. Authorities say "electrical firecrackers" likely sparked the blaze and that many victims suffocated in the basement and kitchen after wooden fittings burned. Police searched the owners' home in New Delhi, found they had left the country and have asked Interpol for help; four people have been arrested and safety inspections of other clubs ordered.
Goa Nightclub Blaze Kills 25 — Owners Flew to Phuket Hours After Fire, Police Say
04:27 PM, 12/09/2025
The owners of a nightclub in Goa's popular Arpora tourist area left the country hours after a weekend blaze at their venue killed 25 people, police said. Most of the victims were staff members, including four Nepali citizens.
Officials said the fire was likely triggered by so-called "electrical firecrackers," and that many victims died of suffocation after wooden fittings in the basement and kitchen caught fire and filled the space with smoke.
Owners Traveled Abroad Amid Investigation
Goa police identified the club's owners as brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra and said the pair boarded a flight to Phuket, Thailand, "immediately after the incident." Officers who travelled to New Delhi to raid the brothers' home found the men had already left the country, a move police described as showing "intent to avoid police investigation." Authorities have appealed to Interpol for assistance locating the brothers.
Official Response And Investigation
On Monday, Saurabh Luthra posted on social media expressing "profound grief" over the tragedy and pledging "every possible form" of support to victims' families, without revealing his whereabouts. AFP said it had not received an immediate response after requesting comment from him.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said four people had been arrested in connection with the incident and ordered inspections of other nightclubs across the state. Officials said inquiries will focus on adherence to safety rules, electrical installations and building materials used in entertainment venues.
Context: Fires in India are often linked to poor building practices, overcrowding and lax enforcement of safety regulations, factors authorities say they will examine during their investigation.
The investigation is ongoing as families, authorities and the local tourist industry reel from the tragedy that struck one of Goa's busiest nightlife hubs.
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