In brief
In the aftermath of a catastrophic fire at a nightclub in Goa, which resulted in 25 fatalities, the owners have reportedly fled to Thailand. Indian authorities are now seeking Interpol's assistance to apprehend the owners, who were last seen boarding a flight shortly after the tragedy. Investigations are ongoing regarding the fire's cause, initially rumored to be linked to gas canisters, but now believed to stem from fireworks being set off inside the venue. This incident has raised significant concerns over safety regulations in venues popular with tourists, as many of the victims were employees and holidaymakers.
The owners of a nightclub in Goa, India, where a devastating fire killed 25 people on Sunday, fled the country hours after the tragedy, police have said.
Indian authorities confirmed the two brothers, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, boarded a flight to Phuket in Thailand shortly after the incident.
Investigators believe the fierce blaze was triggered by fireworks being set off inside the venue, Birch By Romeo Lane, which is located in a busy nightlife area of Goa, a coastal state popular with domestic and international tourists.
The majority of the victims were staff members, while four were holidaymakers visiting from Delhi. Five people are still being treated in hospital.
Police have appealed to Interpol for help to find and arrest the Luthra brothers.
Police said they travelled to Delhi to carry out a raid on the men's home, but discovered they had left the country.
It shows their intent to avoid police investigation, Goa police said in a statement.
Saurabh Luthra, whose social media identifies him as the chairman of the company which operates the club, posted a statement expressing profound grief, but did not reference his whereabouts.
His brother Gaurav Luthra has not commented publicly.
At least four people were arrested in the immediate aftermath of the fire, including the venue's manager.
The Birch nightclub in Arpora, an area with several high-end nightlife businesses, was packed with customers who had come to hear a Bollywood DJ when the fire broke out in the early hours of the morning.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of total panic as people tried to flee.
The main section of the venue is built on an island in the middle of a lake, which visitors accessed via narrow walkways - a layout which made it difficult for firefighters to tackle the blaze.
Several of the victims were migrant workers who had travelled to Goa to find employment, including four Nepalese nationals.
Among those who died were two brothers who were both engaged to be married next year, and four members of the same Delhi family. The police said the bodies of all the victims had been returned to their families.
