Killer blaze: From Dabwali to Goa, a saga of apathy, laxity

THE nightclub blaze that snuffed out 25 lives in Goa had a tragic air of inevitability about it. The place remained operational even though it had not obtained the mandatory no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire department; government officials tasked with enforcing rules conveniently chose to overlook the illegality. Such blatant disregard for fire safety norms was an open invitation to disaster, which struck on Saturday night when electric firecrackers caused mayhem on the crowded premises. Victims got trapped on the dance floor or in the kitchen due to a lack of escape routes, while narrow lanes blocked the entry of fire brigade vehicles. Among those killed were tourists from Delhi and migrant workers from several states.