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New Delhi: Kristina, a professional belly dancer from Kazakhstan who survived a devastating fire incident at a Goa nightclub, recalled her harrowing experience and said that she would have also died in the tragic blaze, had a crew member not stopped her from going to the very room where the fire originated.
The belly dancer was performing in front of the crowd when the fire broke out at the nightclub, Birch by Romeo Lane, in north Goa's Arpora. The incident that took place on Saturday left 26 people dead and several others injured. A video of Kristina performing on stage before the blaze has gone viral on social media, capturing the moment when a fire alarm replaced the music.
Kristina recalls Goa club fire tragedy
Recounting the horror, Kristina said that soon after the fire broke out, she was heading to the basement green room, where the fire originated, to collect her belongings but a crew member stopped her from going there.
"The fire broke out because of a short circuit while I was performing. I was shocked. The music suddenly stopped, and I could not understand what had happened. I started trying to find my way to exit," she recalled.
"When I reached the reception, everything was dark and completely on fire. When I ran towards my green room down and I felt, I needed to go and check on people, someone told me not to go down," she was quoted as saying by India Today.
"I don't have words. I was just crying. Indian God saved my life. My hand is still shaking, the dancer added. She further said that the managers helped people exit the club as soon as possible.
Birch club owners fled to Thailand after tragedy
The two owners of the Goa nightclub fled to Thailand hours after the incident happened on Saturday night, the police said. The two accused -- Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra -- have been on the run until now.
Police have arrested the third accused - Bharat Kohli - from Delhi. Earlier, Goa authorities had suspended Shamila Monteiro, Director of Fisheries and former Member Secretary of the Goa State Pollution Control Board, citing regulatory lapses, said the official.
