Three migrant workers from Jharkhand were among those killed in the Goa nightclub fire, their family said on Sunday.
Two brothers, Pradeep (24) and Vinod Mahto (20), from Fatehpur village in Lapung, and Mohti Manda (22) from Govindpur village in Khunti district’s Karra block, died in the incident, their families said.
Phagu Mahto (32), elder brother of Pradeep and Vinod, said they learnt of the deaths around 3 am after one of their relatives in Goa called.
“I lost both my brothers, Pradeep and Vinod. We came to know about it when we received a call from Nishan Kumar, one of our relatives, who had gone to Goa in search of a livelihood. My father Dhaneshwar Mahto is shocked.”
At least 25 people were killed, and six others suffered injuries in a massive fire that erupted at a nightclub in North Goa after midnight on Sunday.
The deceased included four tourists and 14 staff members, while the identities of the remaining seven were yet to be established, police said.
Six persons who suffered injuries in the blaze and they are currently undergoing treatment at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim.
Phagu said both the brothers had migrated to Goa around 10-12 months ago and were scheduled to celebrate Holi with family next year.
“My brothers used to send around Rs 30,000 per month to support the family here. Both were unmarried,” he said. So far, none of the officials or any representatives from the State Government have contacted the family, Phagu claimed.
His wife, Sulanti, said the family is very poor and they depended on their meagre income from a makeshift sweets shop in the village and money sent by the brothers.
In Govindpur, the family of Mohti Munda received a similar call informing them of his death. Relatives said his father, Etwa Manda, was in shock.
His son, Mohti Manda (22), who worked in the same nightclub, had also died in the blaze.
An official at the State migrant control room in Ranchi said they had contacted all affected families and efforts were underway to reach the employer in Goa.
Congress demands a probe
New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday demanded a comprehensive investigation and strict accountability for the tragic fire at a nightclub in Goa that killed 25 people, with Rahul Gandhi claiming it was a criminal failure of safety and governance.
The fire broke out at Birch by Romeo Lane, a popular nightclub at Arpora village in North Goa, early Sunday, killing at least 25 people, including four tourists and 14 staff members, and injuring six others.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his deepest condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the blaze.
“This avoidable, tragic incident is an irreparable loss, and I pray for the speedy recovery of all those who have been injured.”
“Such tragedies call for a comprehensive investigation, strict accountability, and immediate steps to ensure that all fire safety norms are enforced, so that such devastating incidents are never repeated,” Kharge said in a social media post.