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Arpora, Goa – The vibrant, electric beat of Goa’s famed nightlife was brutally silenced early Sunday morning by a devastating fire at the upscale nightclub ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ in Arpora, North Goa, claiming the lives of at least 25 people, including staff and tourists. The tragedy has instantly cast a pall over the state’s tourism industry and ignited fury over alleged egregious safety violations at the venue.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the horrific toll and immediately ordered a magisterial inquiry into the catastrophe. The preliminary probe suggests the nightclub was operating with blatant disregard for crucial fire safety norms, transforming a night of revelry into a lethal trap.
A Fire Trap: Suffocation and Regulatory Failure
Initial reports and eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture of panic and entrapment. The fire, which may have been sparked by either a suspected cylinder blast in the kitchen or electric firecrackers used on the dance floor, quickly engulfed the multi-storey structure, which reportedly featured a highly combustible wooden interior.
The majority of the deceased were staff members, many of whom were reportedly trapped in the kitchen and basement areas. Officials confirmed that most victims did not die from burns, but from suffocation due to the thick, toxic smoke that rapidly filled the enclosed space. Among the confirmed casualties were four tourists, highlighting the national and international reach of the tragedy.
Tragic Detail: Sources indicate that the club had very limited exits and was operating without several mandatory licences and fire safety permissions. Furthermore, some reports suggest the structure, built on a former saltpan, had previously received a demolition notice.
Swift Action and Suspensions
In the wake of the tragedy, police have moved swiftly, filing an FIR for culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the management. The general manager of the club has been arrested, and an arrest warrant has been issued for the owners, who are currently at large.
The accountability extends beyond the club management. In a significant step, the Goa government suspended three senior officials, including the then-Director of Panchayat, in connection with the fire, holding them responsible for their role in permitting the facility to start operations in 2023 despite the reported lack of proper documentation.
CM Pramod Sawant vowed stringent action, stating, “Whoever is found guilty will be put behind bars. We will take all steps to ensure that such an incident never happens in the future.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced an ex-gratia compensation for the families of the deceased and the injured.
The Call for a Full Safety Audit
The incident has triggered widespread outrage and a demand for an immediate safety audit of all nightlife establishments across Goa. Calangute MLA Michael Lobo stressed the urgency of checking fire compliance, especially for air-conditioned venues that pose a higher risk.
As families mourn and the state government scrambles to contain the fallout, the ‘Birch’ fire stands as a stark and painful reminder of the human cost of circumventing safety regulations in India’s booming tourism and entertainment sectors. The magisterial probe will now determine not just the exact cause of the fire, but the full extent of the systemic and regulatory lapses that allowed a disaster of this magnitude to occur.
Inquiry Deepens: Arrests and Suspensions Highlight Systemic Failure
The investigation into the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ fire has quickly shifted from a tragic accident to a massive criminal and regulatory failure.
Arrests and Charges
Four Management Staff Arrested: Police have arrested the Chief General Manager, General Manager, Bar Manager, and Gate Manager of the nightclub on charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder and causing death due to negligence.
Owners on the Run: An arrest warrant has been issued for the club’s owners, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who are currently absconding. The charges against them are severe, pointing to gross negligence and operating the venue despite knowing the risks.
FIR Details: The First Information Report (FIR) cites specific violations of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), replacing the older penal code sections, indicating the seriousness of the charges.
Government Action & Suspensions
Three Officials Suspended: The Goa government has suspended three senior government officials who were allegedly responsible for permitting the nightclub to operate without the mandatory clearances in 2023. This confirms the systemic failure hinted at earlier, holding regulatory bodies accountable.
- Siddhi Tushar Harlankar (then-Director of Panchayats)
- Shamila Monteiro (then-Member Secretary of the Goa State Pollution Control Board)
- Raghuvir Bagkar (then-Secretary of Village Panchayat)
Second Venue Sealed: Authorities also sealed another establishment, ‘Romeo Lane’ in Vagator, linked to the same promoters, as part of a wider crackdown on illegal venues.
Magisterial Inquiry: The fact-finding committee has been given a one-week deadline to submit a detailed report on the incident, the cause of the fire, and the full extent of the safety violations.
Safety Violations Confirmed
The preliminary inquiry confirms the club was a death trap:
Lack of Exits: The club had limited, narrow entry/exit points. Crucially, the basement area, where 23 of the 25 victims suffocated, had no exit door or ventilation.
Illegal Construction: The structure was reportedly built illegally on a former saltpan and had previously received a demolition notice from local authorities.
Fire Source: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated that the fire was triggered by electrical firecrackers used as part of a performance inside the club, accelerating the blaze. Initial reports of a cylinder blast have been largely ruled out as the primary cause, though some initial burn injuries were noted.
Restricted Access: Fire brigade tankers were unable to reach the site due to the narrow lanes leading to the venue, forcing them to park over 400 meters away, significantly delaying initial response efforts.
Victims Identified: A Tragic Portrait of Loss
Authorities have successfully identified all 25 victims, revealing a heartbreaking distribution:
Staff Casualties: 20 individuals were staff members, mostly working in the basement kitchen and service areas where they were trapped and succumbed to suffocation from the smoke. They were migrant workers from states like Uttarakhand (5), Nepal (4), Jharkhand (3), Assam (3), and others.
Tourist Casualties: Five tourists were among the deceased:
Four from Delhi: Including three members of a single family.
One from Karnataka.
The overwhelming cause of death for the majority was suffocation, confirming they were unable to escape the rapidly spreading, toxic smoke that turned the enclosed, non-compliant structure into a lethal chamber.
