At least 23 people were killed in a fire late Saturday night at a popular nightclub in the resort city of Goa, southwest India, officials said.
In a post on Twitter on Sunday morning, Goa state Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said he had visited the site of a “major fire” at a club in Arpora, adding that he had ordered an investigation into the incident.
“Those found responsible will face the strictest action under the law – any negligence will be dealt with sternly,” Pravant said.
What else do we know about fire?
The chief minister told reporters at the scene that the dead included “three to four” tourists.
Pravant also said that three people died of burns, while 20 others died of suffocation.
According to Indian media reports, police believe most of the dead were nightclub employees.
Indian PTI news agency quoted the local police chief as saying that preliminary investigation suggests the fire started after a gas cylinder exploded in the kitchen.
Goa, a former Portuguese colony on the Arabian Sea, attracts millions of tourists. It is known for its sandy beaches, tropical climate and vibrant nightlife.
Winter is the peak tourism season for Goa, India’s smallest state.
Edited by Dmytro Lyubenko