Arpora, Goa – A devastating fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, has claimed the lives of 25 people. The tragedy unfolded late Saturday night, throwing the popular nightlife area into chaos.
Eyewitnesses recount a scene of horror, with initial reports suggesting the blaze was triggered by a gas cylinder explosion in the club's kitchen around 12:04 AM. "When I was heading home, I heard an explosion," a local resident told ANI. "Later, we saw ambulances arriving at the spot. When we reached the location, we saw that the incident had already occurred". A security guard working nearby reported, "...We heard a massive explosion. We later learned that the fire broke out after a cylinder blast…".
Fatima Shaikh, a tourist from Hyderabad, described the terrifying moments: “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". Shaikh noted the club was packed, with at least 100 people on the dance floor, and that in the ensuing panic, some tourists ran downstairs, becoming trapped in the kitchen area with staff.
"I was outside the club when I heard screams," another eyewitness told the BBC. "I didn't initially understand what was going on. In a bit, it became clear that a massive fire had broken out. Nobody could do much. The scenes were just horrific".
According to Alok Kumar, Goa's Director General of Police, the fire was concentrated around the kitchen area on the ground floor. Firefighters faced challenges due to restricted access, which hampered their ability to control the blaze quickly. A fire and emergency services officer stated that most deaths resulted from suffocation, as victims were trapped on the ground floor.
Authorities have confirmed that a majority of the victims were staff members, with three to four tourists among the deceased. While the exact identities of all victims are still being determined, officials have identified four tourists and 14 staff members. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated that three people died from burn injuries, while the remaining victims died due to suffocation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the incident, calling it "deeply saddening". He conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. Modi also spoke with Goa CM Pramod Sawant, assuring that the state government would provide all possible assistance to those affected and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased.
In the wake of the tragedy, BJP MLA Michael Lobo has called for a safety audit of all clubs in Goa. Chief Minister Sawant has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, vowing strict action against the club management and any authorities found to have permitted the club to operate in violation of fire safety norms. Sawant also noted the nightclub had not adhered to fire safety norms.
