This Jharkhand family lost 2 brothers to Goa nightclub fire

Nishant Sahu, a co-worker from the same village who identified the bodies of Binod and Pradeep, said he and nearly 15-16 men from the same village in Jharkhand had rushed to the hospital after learning about the blaze. “We all work in Goa, but at different places. As soon as we heard what happened, we came here,” he said. According to him, the brothers had been working at the nightclub for a few months.

Sahu said the victims were found in the basement area and their bodies were now being prepared for transport to Jharkhand. “The government is arranging a flight to Ranchi,” he said, adding that none of the workers were being allowed to accompany the bodies on the aircraft.

Sandeep Mahto, a cousin of Pradeep and Binod, who also rushed to the spot, said the family was in shock. “We are just trying to send our boys home. The coffins are being sealed at the hospital,” he said. Sandeep said the brothers were not married. “There are three brothers in total. The eldest, Phagu Mahto, has also reached here but is not in a condition to speak. The family members in the village are waiting there to see the bodies,” he said.

Vikas Munda, the elder brother of Mohit Munda, said that he identified his brother’s body and wondered how he would take the remains back to the village. “As soon as I received the information about the blaze, I immediately came to see him. This is really tough for me to see all this,” he said.

Munda said his father, Etwa Munda, and others from their village are eager to bring the body back home as soon as possible.

The relatives of the three victims from Jharkhand also said they sought clarifications from the administration regarding the reasons behind the incident that claimed the lives of their loved ones.

Shikha Lakra, Head of the State Migrant Workers Control Room under the Jharkhand Labour Department, said the state had established contact with all three families of the victims. “The three workers had been employed in Goa for over 10 months. Two of them were brothers from the Mahto family in Ranchi, and the third was from Karra Khunti,” she said.

She said the control room had activated its local NGO partner in Goa to reach the hospital and verify the situation. “We have sent our local partner to the station there. They will give us the detailed update from the ground,” she said.

She also said Labour Department teams are busy coordinating the transport of the bodies.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, in a post on X, condoled the loss of lives in the Goa nightclub fire. “The news of several people dying in a massive fire late at night in a nightclub in Goa is extremely heartbreaking. May Marang Buru grant peace to the souls of the departed and give strength to the grieving families to endure this hour of sorrow. I pray for the swift recovery of those injured in the accident,” his post read.