A devastating fire at a nightclub in Arpora, Goa, India, has claimed the lives of at least 25 people. The blaze broke out at the Birch by Romeo Lane club at approximately midnight on Saturday.
Initial reports suggest a cylinder blast may have triggered the fire. However, some eyewitnesses reported that the fire originated on the first floor of the club, where tourists were dancing. Goa Police Chief Alok Kumar stated that the fire is under control, but the exact cause is still being investigated.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant described Sunday as a "very painful day" for Goa. He confirmed that at least 23 people had died in the incident. Later reports increased the death toll to 25, including four tourists and 14 staff members. The Chief Minister has ordered an inquiry into the incident, promising strict action against anyone found responsible for negligence. "Those found responsible will face the most stringent action under the law – any negligence will be dealt with firmly," he stated.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as the fire rapidly engulfed the building. With at least 100 people on the dance floor, many attempted to escape, some rushing towards the kitchen area, where they became trapped along with the staff. The club's narrow entry and exit further hampered rescue efforts. "There was a sudden commotion as the flames started erupting. We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames," said Fatima Shaikh, a tourist from Hyderabad.
Fire Chief Nitin V. Raiker noted that most fatalities occurred due to suffocation in the basement and kitchen area. He also mentioned receiving information about a "fire show" organized at the club, suggesting that wooden parts of the club caught fire, causing smoke to spread rapidly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the tragedy, calling it "deeply saddening". He has announced an ex-gratia payment of INR 200,000 (approximately $2,223.57) from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the families of the deceased and INR 50,000 (approximately $556) to the injured.
Local authorities had previously issued a demolition notice for the nightclub due to a lack of proper construction permits, but the order was reportedly rolled back by higher officials. A local village council official, Roshan Redkar, stated that authorities had issued a demolition notice for the club as it had no construction permit from the government. Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said that local panchayats will conduct fire safety audits of all nightclubs to prevent similar incidents.
