A young dancer from Kazakhstan who survived the catastrophic nightclub fire in Goa has shared a deeply emotional account of how she narrowly escaped death. Kristina, who was performing on stage at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora when the fire broke out, said she is “thankful to be alive” and repeatedly broke down while recalling the moment the blaze erupted mid-performance.
Kristina said the fire sparked suddenly after what she believes was a short circuit. The music stopped abruptly, and panic took over as flames spread rapidly. She described how she began searching desperately for an exit while crying uncontrollably, unable to understand what was happening around her. A video showing her performing on stage just moments before the disaster has since gone viral, highlighting how quickly the situation turned from celebration to chaos.
She noted that staff and guests tried to help each other escape. However, her own survival came down to a crucial warning — as she instinctively ran toward the green room to change, a crew member stopped her and told her not to go there because the fire had already reached that area. She said that moment saved her life. Later, when she returned home and hugged her daughter, she realised the magnitude of what she had survived.
The tragedy claimed 25 lives, including four tourists and 14 staff members. Six others have been hospitalised with injuries, and the identities of several victims are still being confirmed. Emergency crews worked through the night to extinguish the blaze and rescue those trapped inside.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced ₹2 lakh compensation for the families of those killed and ₹50,000 for the injured. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has ordered a detailed inquiry and assured that the most stringent action will be taken against anyone found responsible, emphasising that the incident is a serious setback for a tourism-dependent state like Goa.
