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 stated they traveled to Delhi for a raid on the men's home but discovered they had already 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 that 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, read the post on Monday.
His brother, Gaurav Luthra, has not commented publicly. Meanwhile, at least four people have already been arrested in the immediate aftermath of the fire, including the venue's manager.
The Birch nightclub in Arpora, situated in 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 attempted 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, complicating firefighting efforts. Part of the venue was entirely destroyed. Police had initially said an exploding gas canister was the cause but now suspect that pyrotechnics ignited wooden ceiling beams.
Among the victims were several migrant workers who had traveled to Goa for employment, including four Nepalese nationals. Tragically, two victims were brothers engaged to be married next year, and four members of the same Delhi family were also among the deceased. The police confirmed that the bodies of all victims have been returned to their families.
