Kristina, a belly dancer from Kazakhstan, was in the middle of her act at Birch nightclub in Goa when everything around her suddenly changed. One moment she was performing, the next the fire alarm broke out. She had no idea what had gone wrong. Before she could make sense of it, people started screaming and rushing toward the exit.
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Dancer survives deadly Goa nightclub fire
Speaking to India Today, Kristina recalled running instinctively toward the green room to grab her belongings. But a crew member stopped her. Those few seconds of warning saved her life.
Hours later, back at home, Kristina held her daughter tightly. “When I hugged my daughter, I was thankful to be alive,” she told India Today, her voice breaking. “My team is safe. The musicians are safe.”
Video captures moment when fire broke out inside Goa nightclub
A viral video from Goa's night club shows a belly dancer performing. However, moments after the ceiling catches fire, the performance stops.
The DJ removes his equipment and stops the music. Someone from the… pic.twitter.com/liLDvDnhyC
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) December 7, 2025 Describing the terrifying moment and inside chaos she recalled, “The fire started because of a short circuit during my performance. I was shocked. The music suddenly stopped, and I didn’t understand what was happening. I started looking for the exit.” A video of her belly dancing just before the fire has gone viral on social media, showing moments before the tragedy shook the infamous Goa nightlife. “I was just crying my head was shaking,” she added.
Kristina said she is grateful to the nightclub staff for helping people get out safely. “People started running toward the exit. Hotel staff and guests helped each other,” she said. “My first instinct was to go to my changing room. But my crew member said, ‘Don’t go there.’ The fire was already at that location. That saved my life.”
While Kristina and her team survived, 25 people lost their lives, most of them young workers and migrant labourers. Families are now waiting outside the morgue, holding pictures of loved ones who will never return. Goa Police confirmed that among the dead were four tourists and 14 staff members.
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Goa nightclub fire aftermath
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Investigators, according to a report from the Indian Express, confirmed that most deaths occurred in the underground kitchen, where people went to escape the flames.
According to the preliminary investigation, the nightclub’s furniture and interiors were mostly wooden and highly flammable. There was no explosion, but the fire spread dramatically, trapping many inside.
“There was no blast. The club furniture mostly consisted of wood and other inflammable material, which quickly caught fire. There were only two exits through which most people managed to escape. Those who could not escape… went towards the underground (basement) kitchen area to protect themselves from the flames, and suffocated,” Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawantsaid during a press conference on Sunday.
Four people have been arrested, including gate manager Priyanshu Thakur, chief general manager Rajiv Modak, bar manager Rajveer Singhania, and general manager Vivek Singh. An FIR has been filed citing the absence of fire safety equipment, lack of emergency exits, and operation without licences. Arrest warrants have been issued for the owners, and teams are tracking them in Delhi.
Officers who approved trade licences and permissions for the club will face suspension and inquiry. Disciplinary action has been ordered to hold officials accountable for negligence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, calling the tragedy “deeply saddening.” |
