Goa nightclub owner flees to Thailand hours after fatal fire

A devastating fire killed 25 people in the Indian state of Goa on Sunday, with the owner of a nightclub fleeing the country hours after the tragedy, police said.

Indian authorities confirmed that two brothers, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, boarded a flight to Phuket, Thailand, shortly after the incident.

Investigators believe the blaze was started by fireworks at the Birch By Romeo Lane venue, located in the bustling nightlife district of Goa, a coastal state popular with domestic and foreign tourists.

Most of the victims were staff and four were holidaymakers from Delhi. Five people remain in hospital.

Police have sought help from Interpol to find and arrest the Luthra brothers.

Police said they traveled to Delhi to conduct a raid on the men’s home but found they had left the country.

“This shows their intention to evade police investigation,” Goa police said in a statement.

Saurabh Luthra, whose social media described him as chairman of the company that runs the club, issued a statement on social media expressing “deep sorrow” but making no mention of his whereabouts.

“In this time of irreparable grief and immense pain, management stands steadfastly in solidarity with the families of the deceased and those injured and offers our most sincere condolences,” Monday’s post said.

It added that “management” would “provide assistance, support and cooperation to the family of the deceased”.

His brother Gaurav Luthra has yet to comment publicly.

At least four people were arrested after the fire, including the venue’s manager.

When the fire broke out in the early hours of the morning, Birch nightclub in Arpora was packed with patrons who came to listen to Bollywood DJs. Arpora is an area with several high-end nightlife venues.

Witnesses described to the BBC scenes of complete panic as people tried to escape.

The main part of the venue was built on an island in the middle of the lake, with visitors entering via narrow walkways, a layout that made it difficult for firefighters to extinguish the blaze.

Parts of the site were completely destroyed. Police initially said the cause was an exploding gas tank, but now believe it was caused by fireworks igniting wooden ceiling beams.

Several of the victims were migrant workers who had traveled to Goa in search of work, including four Nepali nationals.

Among the dead were two engaged brothers and four members of the same Delhi family.

Police said the bodies of all the victims have been returned to their families.