In brief
In the wake of a deadly fire at a nightclub in Goa, India, that claimed 25 lives, the owners, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, fled to Thailand mere hours after the incident. The fire, which occurred during an event with fireworks indoors, resulted in significant casualties, with many victims being staff members. Police have sought Interpol's assistance to apprehend the brothers, who are suspected of trying to evade a police investigation. The tragedy raises serious concerns about safety regulations in high-traffic nightlife venues.
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, 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 traveled 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 on social media expressing 'profound grief', but did not reference his whereabouts.
'In this hour of irreparable sorrow and overwhelming distress, the management stands in unwavering solidarity with the families of the deceased as well as those injured, and conveys its heartfelt condolences with utmost sincerity,' Monday's post said.
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 panic as people attempted to flee. The main section of the venue is built on an island in the middle of a lake, which made it challenging for firefighters to tackle the blaze.
Initially, police believed an exploding gas canister was the cause, but later investigations indicated that pyrotechnics ignited wooden ceiling beams.
Several of the victims were migrant workers seeking employment in Goa, including four Nepalese nationals. Among those who died were two brothers engaged to be married next year and four members of the same family from Delhi.
Authorities confirmed that the bodies of all the victims have been returned to their families.
