What began as a long-awaited family vacation for a Delhi household ended in unimaginable grief when a massive fire tore through a nightclub in Goa’s Arpora in the early hours of Sunday. Twenty-five people lost their lives in the blaze, among them four members of the same family from Karawal Nagar in northeast Delhi. The tragedy has left an entire neighbourhood in shock as relatives struggle to shield children and the elderly from the devastating news.

Less than a week before the fire, Vinod Kumar, his wife Bhavna, and Bhavna’s three sisters—Kamla, Anita and Saroj—left their Delhi home for a brief break. The four sisters had been planning the trip for months, hoping to finally take a few days to themselves now that their children were older and no longer dependent on them for constant care. They had repeatedly talked about finding time for rest after years spent raising families, balancing responsibilities and managing daily routines. Their long-anticipated holiday was meant to be a moment of joy, a rare chance to unwind together away from the pressures of daily life.

Vinod had agreed to accompany the four sisters so that they would feel safe, supported and comfortable throughout the journey. According to relatives, he wanted to ensure they had someone to rely on, especially during travel and late-night outings. Their neighbours recall how the family stepped out of their home carrying bags, excited chatter and expectations of a peaceful break from routine. Vinod’s elderly mother watched them leave with a cheerful wave, unaware that this farewell would be the last time she saw four of them alive.

The fire that engulfed the nightclub broke out suddenly and spread rapidly, trapping many inside. Officials later confirmed that four of the five Delhi residents present at the club—Vinod Kumar, Kamla Joshi, Anita Joshi and Saroj Joshi—had died in the blaze. The fifth, Bhavna Joshi, survived with injuries and is currently undergoing treatment. Bhavna is now the only surviving member among the group, and the emotional burden of the loss is unimaginable: she lost three sisters and her husband in a matter of minutes.

Kamla, the eldest of the sisters, was married to Vinod’s elder brother, Naveen. Relatives say she had been looking forward to the trip the most, encouraging her sisters to make time for themselves and insisting that they seize the opportunity before life’s responsibilities pulled them back into routine. Each of the sisters had shared a close bond not only with one another but also with their extended family. Their deaths have left a vacuum that friends and neighbours say can never be filled.

In Karawal Nagar, grief has enveloped the entire community. Mahipal Singh Bhandari, a neighbour who has lived next to the family for nearly 40 years, described the loss as beyond comprehension. He recalled decades of shared moments between the families—festivals, weddings, neighbourhood conversations—and expressed anguish that four individuals from the same home had lost their lives due to, in his words, “someone else’s irresponsibility.”

Another neighbour and relative, Harish, said that the tragedy has shaken the entire area. He noted that such incidents should never occur in the first place and pointed to a pattern of preventable disasters in recent times. Referring to the recent Rajendra Nagar coaching centre incident, he stressed the need for strict fire safety compliance across all establishments where large crowds gather. According to him, basic measures such as open emergency exits, functional fire alarms and adherence to safety regulations can prevent such disasters from escalating into mass fatalities.

What has particularly angered the neighbours is the allegation that the nightclub had previously been ordered shut by authorities but continued operating despite multiple notices. Harish said that if these claims are true, the negligence is unforgivable. He added that when establishments flout safety guidelines, and when accountability is missing, lives are put at risk without their knowledge. He believes the government must be held responsible for allowing illegal operations to continue, and he echoed the growing demand for strict action against those who failed to enforce the shutdown orders.

“Families have lost their sons, husbands, children, brothers, sisters, wives and daughters,” Harish said. “Five members of this family set out for a Goa vacation, and four of them will never return. This cannot be ignored or dismissed. Those responsible must be held accountable in a way that prevents such tragedies from happening again.”

Back in Karawal Nagar, the atmosphere is one of tense silence and suppressed grief, punctuated only by the arrival of neighbours and relatives trying to offer what comfort they can. The families of the deceased are facing the difficult task of managing their own sorrow while trying to protect the most vulnerable members from the harsh truth. The children of Vinod and Bhavna—a son aged 11 and a daughter aged 6—have been kept away from the constant flow of visitors who arrive to grieve. Relatives report that the children have been told little, and efforts are being made to shield them from the immediate shock until a way is found to gently break the news.

Meanwhile, the teenage children of Kamla—a daughter aged 18 and a son aged 14—are said to be in deep shock. They received the news on Sunday and have been largely silent since then. Neighbours say the two had been eagerly waiting for their mother’s return, expecting small souvenirs from Goa as she had promised before leaving. Their sudden shift from anticipation to grief has left the community deeply moved. Relatives say the teenagers are still struggling to process the reality that their mother will not be coming home.

Perhaps the most heart-wrenching situation is that of Vinod’s elderly mother, who remains unaware of the extent of the tragedy. Sitting near the same doorway from which she had earlier waved goodbye to her family members, she continues to ask relatives whether the “injured” have been shifted to a safer hospital. She believes they will be brought home soon. Relatives are terrified of how she will react when she eventually learns the truth, and for now they are doing everything in their power to protect her from the emotional shock.

Neighbours say that the family home, once filled with the sounds of children, conversations and daily life, now carries a heavy silence. Every room reminds them of someone who is now gone. The tragedy has also sparked conversations across the neighbourhood about the need for better safety regulations, stricter monitoring of public establishments and more transparent enforcement of shutdown orders. Many fear that unless accountability is enforced, more families could face similar heartbreak in the future.

As the family waits for the formalities surrounding the tragedy to conclude and for the bodies to be brought home, the community around them is preparing for days of mourning. People who knew the victims remember them as warm, grounded and deeply connected to their family. The fact that a joyful vacation turned into a tragedy makes the loss even more painful for the neighbours and relatives who watched this family grow over the years.

For now, Karawal Nagar stands united in grief, trying to support the survivors through a tragedy that has altered their lives forever. The memories of the victims—four individuals who left home with hope, joy and plans for a few days of rest—will continue to linger in the neighbourhood that loved them and now mourns them.