The incident occurred shortly after midnight at the Airpora club, which was crowded with around 100 people celebrating the weekend.
Eyewitnesses said the fire started during a dance performance and quickly spread.
Preliminary investigations indicate that a gas cylinder explosion may have triggered the blaze.
Many victims were trapped as they tried to escape, with some running into the ground-floor kitchen, where the fire reportedly began.
Fatima Shaikh, who witnessed the tragedy, said, “Several tourists ran toward the kitchen area and got trapped with the staff.
Most people managed to escape, but many could not.” A nearby restaurant security guard also described a loud explosion before the fire spread rapidly across the club.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed that 14 of the victims were kitchen staff members, four were tourists, and seven others are yet to be identified.
Rescue and security teams rushed to the scene to contain the fire and assist survivors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident, offering condolences to the families of the victims.
“The fire mishap in Arpora, Goa is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest,” Modi said in a Facebook post.
He added that the state government is providing all possible assistance to those affected.
Authorities have arrested the club manager and launched a magisterial inquiry into the fire.
Reports suggest that safety standards may not have been properly followed, and questions remain about whether proper fire safety measures were in place.
Local residents recounted hearing a loud blast and seeing ambulances rush to the scene as smoke and flames engulfed the building.
Many survivors described chaotic scenes as people scrambled to escape the inferno.
The tragic event has raised concerns over fire safety in crowded entertainment venues, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of safety regulations in India.
