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We had some shocking news this morning.
2 of my young friends are currently in Goa. (My eldest usually goes with them but couldn't afford it this year.)
Woke up to the news that one of the most popular nightclubs suffered an explosion and a fire was raging.
23 dead and 50 injured. This club, called The Birch, is one used by my son and friends
I text both friends and had a reply immediately to say they were safe, Thay had decided last minute that they woud stay at a local beach club last night as 'the drinks were cheaper and The Birch was always packed on a Saturday'.
Shocking news to know this place had failed mandatory fire checks but was still open. Many of those killed or injured who couldn't get out of the front door, made their way to the basement only to find themselves trapped as there was no fire door.! Apparently everyone in the basement perished.
Really terrible news. 😭
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Very sad about the venue, @Cleoriff - good that they decided to go elsewhere this time. And that the mobile service worked to reach them. Makes you wonder how many other places there are without the correct certifications in place for escape routes and instructions for what to do in the event if fire... How do you know? "The nearest escape route my BA behind you" and all that.
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Yes it was shocking news that I first read about last night on the BBC website
In my (not so) younger days when I first met Mauy, we frequented a number of night clubs which were in basements and there was only one way out -up!
These nightclubs were packed to the extreme and me with my wise head on insisted we always stood near the exit when not dancing. Scary places indeed.
Thank God your eldest son didn't travel with his friends and fate dictated their absence from said club.
I fear the death toll was a guesstimate and the number of deaths or missing may well rise.
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When you think about those who died and realise a fire safety door in the basement would have helped many to exit safely, it's a no brainer really. I hope a law is passed to make sure that happens with all night clubs in these places.
It still makes me shudder to think about it.
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Just to add to this story there's more bad news.
My friends in Goa had their plane(s) cancelled.
There is a small plane which flies to the main airport for them to catch an Air India plane from Goa to Heathrow. The plane from Goa was cancelled so the Air india plane left without them. They have to stay in Goa for another 8 days.. Not good when you have Christmas to arrange and find other accommodation in Goa.
Having said all that, I'm well aware that there are people in that explosion and fire who will never see Christmas again.
Apparently there were 4 members of the same family, on their first holiday to Goa who died that night 😢
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/08/india-goa-nightclub-fire-birch-romeo-lane
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That's a real tragedy @Cleoriff all from the same family
It just goes to show how precious life is and how quickly it can be over
I don't suppose your friends will be over-joyed at missing work or making plans for Christmas but when you think of what might have been...
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Well.... They are a bit panicky @jonsie. One only brought enough money for 10 days and has a 16year old lad at home. Her grandma looks in on him re school etc but not every day as he promised his Mum he could look after himself!!
The other one has an elderly Mum who, according to a neighbour has been ill while she was away for a month. Kept that news to herself thinking the daughter would be back last weekend.
As for the other couple, they are married and coming up to retirement age but have family who were and still are, worried sick.
All they can hope is, the 2nd plane from Goa is flying next Tuesday and the Air India flight is prepared to wait for extra passengers if it's delayed. Bear in mind, this island connection flight cancellation has affected loads more people.
When our eldest went 2 years ago, the little plane from the island in Goa was delayed and the main Air India flight had left the international airport, leaving him stranded. It cost US £600 to get him on the next flight. Ray drove to Heathrow to pick him up. Only to find , due to fog at Heathrow, it landed at Manchester!. So Ray drove all the way home. We paid an extra £40 to get him on the Flightlink coach to Coventry. (Where Ray picked him up at 3am in the morning!) What a nightmare that all was!! Probably the main reason he's never been again!!
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D'you know - I think the term "holiday of a lifetime" is not always what people might at first think it is...
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