The fire that broke out on Saturday night at a nightclub in Goa’s Arpora village, and claimed 25 lives, was a tragedy foretold. Lacking the requisite permissions and licences, including a no-objection certificate from the fire department, the alleged illegalities at the Arpora establishment had already been flagged multiple times, including by the village panchayat. There were several glaring lapses in fire safety compliance as well: Fundamental safety infrastructure was missing, including proper exits through which people could escape. The basement, which housed the kitchen, lacked adequate ventilation. Flammable material, including bamboo, appears to have been used in........

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