At least 59 people have lost their lives, and over 155 others sustained injuries after a devastating fire broke out at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia. The fire erupted around 02:30 local time (01:30 GMT) while approximately 1,500 people were attending a concert by DNK, a well-known hip-hop duo.

Videos circulating on social media show the roof of the club engulfed in flames as panic ensued among attendees. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski described the incident as a “difficult and very sad day” for the nation, mourning the loss of many young lives.

Cause of the fire

According to Interior Minister Pance Toskovski, preliminary reports suggest that the fire was ignited by sparks from pyrotechnic devices used during the performance. The sparks reportedly reached the ceiling, which was composed of highly flammable material, causing the fire to spread rapidly.

Footage from inside the venue shows two flares being set off, followed by flames catching onto the ceiling. Many concertgoers initially appeared to watch the fire rather than evacuate immediately.

Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes of people scrambling to escape. Marija Taseva, a 20-year-old survivor, recounted to Channel 5 TV how she was caught in a stampede. She was trampled before managing to make her way out, while her family continued searching for her missing 25-year-old sister, who had not been located in any local hospital.

Mass casualties and overwhelmed hospitals

Kocani’s hospital initially received around 90 patients suffering from severe burns, with 18 remaining in critical condition, according to the health minister. Hospital director Kristina Serafimova stated that identifying victims had been challenging due to many not carrying ID cards. The deceased were reported to be between the ages of 14 and 24.

Authorities have arrested one individual in connection with the incident, though further details have not yet been disclosed.

In a statement, the prime minister assured that the government is “fully mobilised” to address the consequences of the disaster and determine its exact causes.

Bihar cop, Constable Deepak Kumar, who was filmed dancing at the request of Bihar MLA Tej Pratap Yadav during a Holi celebration, has been removed as security guard of the RJD leader and sent to Police Lines, according to an announcement from the Patna Senior Superintendent of Police’s office on Sunday.

The decision follows the circulation of a video where Tej Pratap Yadav, a leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), was seen instructing Kumar to dance at a public gathering, which subsequently went viral.

According to a statement from the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) issued on Sunday, “Constable Deepak Kumar, who was serving as a security guard for MLA Tej Pratap, has been sent to the police lines with immediate effect for dancing in uniform. Kumar will be replaced by another constable for the MLA’s security duties.”

In response to the uproar, authorities acknowledged the video showing the constable in uniform dancing under the RJD leader’s direction. A statement indicated that following this incident, Kumar was summoned, and it was ordered that another constable be assigned to replace him as Yadav’s bodyguard.

The controversial footage, recorded during a celebration on March 14, shows Yadav making the comment, “Nahi thumka lagaoge to suspend kar diye jaoge,” translating to “If you don’t dance, you will be suspended.”

This incident has sparked widespread criticism, particularly from BJP representatives. MP Dinesh Sharma condemned Yadav’s actions, characterizing them as a disrespect to law enforcement. He stated, “He will never get the right to suspend anyone, and he comes from a family known for insulting the police and its uniform… They are only fit for drama and should not be considered capable of governance.”

Condemnation has also come from retired police officials, who labeled Yadav’s comments as insulting and called for accountability. Ajay Kumar Singh, a former Assistant Commissioner of Police in Delhi, expressed his disapproval, asserting that disciplinary action should be directed towards Yadav, not the constable who was simply obeying orders.

Singh highlighted the importance of maintaining the dignity of the police uniform and cited the police manual’s emphasis on adherence to a code of conduct. He criticized Yadav’s behavior, referring to his remarks as an affront to law enforcement, and expressed concern that penalizing the constable would be both unjust and unacceptable.

A corporate employer’s stringent Holi policies have triggered widespread criticism after an employee, Sahil Sakure, shared a screenshot of a manager’s message on Reddit. The message outlined a set of strict rules for employees, including a ban on colours, leave restrictions, and even a warning against falling sick or having emergencies on the festival day.

According to the message, Holi was categorized as a “Business Critical Day,” meaning any leave taken without prior approval would be marked as unapproved and unpaid. Furthermore, the company implemented a controversial “sandwich salary deduction” policy, which meant that employees taking leave before or after a weekend or public holiday would face additional salary deductions.

Adding to the restrictions, the manager explicitly instructed employees to ensure they do not arrive at the office with traces of Holi colours, warning that those who did would be denied entry and marked absent. The message further advised employees to “take extra care” and avoid falling sick or having emergencies on the day of Holi.

Online backlash over ‘toxic’ work culture

The policy quickly went viral, sparking outrage among internet users. Many criticized the unrealistic expectations set by the employer, especially the directive to “avoid having emergencies.”

One user sarcastically commented, ” ‘Do not have emergencies tomorrow’—bro, that’s literally not how emergencies work!” Another user compared the workplace to a school, saying, “This sounds more like a school than a workplace.”

Others called out the unfair salary deductions, with one person commenting, “Mass resignation is the only solution for this.” Another remarked, “This has toxic written all over it.”

The controversy adds to a growing discourse about workplace toxicity and unrealistic corporate expectations. Last year, a similar incident in Bengaluru saw a man attending a Durga Puja pandal while juggling a client meeting on his phone and laptop. The video of his multitasking went viral, with many calling it another example of an unhealthy work culture.

The backlash against such workplace policies continues to highlight the struggle of employees in balancing personal and professional lives, especially during culturally significant festivals.