Goa's Health Secretary has announced that five patients who sustained 12% burn injuries in the recent fire at a restaurant-club in Arpora are recovering remarkably well and are expected to be discharged soon. The devastating fire, which occurred late Saturday night at the "Birch by Romeo Lane" nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, claimed the lives of 25 people and injured six others.
According to authorities, the victims included both tourists and staff members. Initial reports suggest that the fire may have been triggered by a cylinder blast or electric firecrackers used during a live performance. The incident occurred around 12:04 am on Sunday, when over 150 people were present at the club for a weekend event.
The rapid spread of the fire led to a chaotic scene as people attempted to escape. Many individuals, in a desperate attempt to flee the flames, rushed towards the basement through a narrow staircase. Tragically, the basement lacked proper ventilation, leading to suffocation. Fire officials recovered 23 bodies from the basement, many of whom had died due to suffocation.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has expressed his condolences and announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured. He has also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident to determine the cause of the fire and identify any lapses in safety protocols. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each deceased, and ₹50,000 would be given to the injured.
In the wake of the tragedy, authorities have taken swift action. The manager of the nightclub and three other staff members have been arrested. The owners of the nightclub, Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, have also been booked, and the Sarpanch of Arpora-Nagoa, Roshan Redkar, has been detained for issuing a trade license to the premises in 2023. Furthermore, three senior government officials have been suspended for granting permission to the nightclub to operate in 2023. These officials include Siddhi Tushar Harlankar, Dr. Shamila Monteiro, and Raghuvir Bagkar.
The fire has sparked political reactions, with opposition leaders calling for accountability and a thorough investigation. Rahul Gandhi termed the incident a "criminal failure of safety and governance" and called for a transparent probe.
The Goa government has established emergency helplines and is providing assistance to the victims' families, including arranging for the transportation of the deceased to their respective homes. Goa Governor S. Abdul Nazeer expressed grief and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
