Overview
- The blaze tore through the Birch nightclub in Arpora around midnight, about 25 kilometers from Panaji.
- Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed 23 deaths and said most victims were kitchen staff, including three women.
- Authorities reported three deaths from burns and the rest from asphyxiation, with three to four tourists among those killed.
- Initial findings point to a gas-cylinder problem as investigators examine likely violations of fire-safety norms.
- Local legislator Michael Lobo said all clubs will be ordered to produce fire-safety permits and licenses will be canceled for venues lacking required approvals, after firefighters and police conducted overnight rescues.