Siliguri: Subash Chettri (23), a youth from Bagdogra, was among the 25 victims who lost their lives in the blaze at a Goa nightclub on Sunday. Subash, who worked as a kitchen staff member at Birch by Romeo Lane, was about to finish his shift, when the calamity struck.
For Subash's family, the heartbreak began with confusion and desperate hope. They initially believed he was undergoing treatment at a hospital until news channels flashed the names of the deceased and they realised that the worst had happened.
Subash's elder sister Urmila said he moved to Goa in Jan 2024, hoping to build a career in the hospitality industry. "He was learning under the chefs there. His duty ended around 1 am and the incident took place around the time he was supposed to be wrapping up for the day," she said. "The fire spread fast. People on the upper floors started running to save themselves. But those working in the basement kitchen did not know what was happening. The restaurant had only one entry and exit, no alarm system, no ventilator and the power supply failed during the fire — leaving them trapped inside."
Goa Police had initially told the Chettris that Subash might be among the injured staff members, who were not in a state to speak. Clinging to that possibility, the family waited for confirmation. But their hope shattered when news channels aired Subash's name as that of a deceased. "We thought he survived, we thought he must be in hospital. Later, we learnt he died of suffocation," said Urmila, comforting their mother, a sister and another brother.
Subash's body is expected to reach Bagdogra on Tuesday morning.