A devastating fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, has resulted in the deaths of 25 people and injuries to six others. The tragedy, which occurred late Saturday night, is under investigation, with preliminary findings indicating violations of fire safety norms.

The fire reportedly started due to a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder explosion near the kitchen area. The flames rapidly engulfed the nightclub, trapping many inside. According to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, three individuals died from burn injuries, while the others succumbed to suffocation. Most of the deceased were staff members, including kitchen workers and three women. Four tourists were also among the fatalities.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has stated that the nightclub was operating without many of the mandatory permissions and an inquiry would be instituted into the incident. He also noted that the restaurant violated fire safety norms. The club, built on what was once a saltpan, had previously received a demolition notice from the local village panchayat and the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority.

Videos circulating on social media show the nightclub completely engulfed in flames and the charred remains of the building after the fire. The police control room received the first alert at 12:04 AM on Sunday, prompting immediate response from police, fire brigade, and ambulances.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given ₹50,000.

Goa Police Chief Alok Kumar mentioned that most of the victims were employees working in the kitchen area and two people died on the staircase while attempting to escape. BJP MLA Michael Lobo has called for a safety audit of all clubs in the state. He described the incident as disturbing, emphasizing the importance of tourist and worker safety in Goa.