Owners fled India after Goa nightclub blaze killed 25, police say
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A burned-out interior of the Birch nightclub in Goa following a fire that broke out and killed 25 people.
PHOTO: AFP
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NEW DELHI – The owners of an Indian nightclub in the tourist hot spot of Goa fled India hours after a deadly fire at their business
The majority of the victims of the tragedy, which struck a club in Arpora in the north of the coastal state, were staff members, including four Nepali citizens.
The blaze was likely triggered by “electrical firecrackers”, officials said, with most people dying due to suffocation in the basement and kitchen area after wooden parts of the club caught fire.
The owners of the club – brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra – boarded a flight for Phuket in Thailand “immediately after the incident”, Goa police said in a statement late on Dec 8.
Police said officers travelled to New Delhi to carry out a raid at the brothers’ home but discovered that the two had left the country.
“It shows their intent to avoid police investigation,” police said.
The authorities have appealed to Interpol for help to find the brothers.
On Dec 8, Mr Saurabh Luthra expressed “profound grief” over the tragedy and promised “every possible form” of assistance to the families of the victims.
“The management expresses profound grief and is deeply shaken by the tragic loss of lives resulting from the unfortunate incident,” he said in a post on social media without revealing his whereabouts.
Goa, nestled on the shores of the Arabian Sea, lures millions of tourists every year with its nightlife, sandy beaches and laidback coastal atmosphere.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Dec 7 said four people had been arrested, and ordered checks on other nightclubs in the former Portuguese colony.
Fires are common in India due to poor building practices, overcrowding and a lack of adherence to safety regulations. AFP
