A Delhi woman's long-awaited Goa vacation turned into a nightmare after a fire at a nightclub in Arpora claimed the lives of her husband and three sisters. The blaze, which broke out at approximately midnight on Saturday at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, resulted in at least 25 fatalities and numerous injuries.

The family, who had traveled from Delhi for their first holiday in Goa, had just finished dinner at the club when the fire erupted. According to a family friend, as panic ensued, the family realized one of the sisters was still inside the venue and rushed back to save her. Tragically, the sisters, along with the husband, became trapped amidst the chaos and were unable to escape.

The fire at Birch by Romeo Lane, a popular restaurant, cocktail bar, and club in the Arpora district of North Goa, is believed to have been ignited by firecrackers. Reports indicate that over 100 people were on the dance floor when the fire started during a live music performance that included a band and a belly dancer. Flames were seen emerging from behind the stage, and the fire quickly engulfed the building.

Preliminary investigations suggest that many of the victims were trapped in the basement of the club and died due to suffocation. Firefighters worked through the night to extinguish the blaze and rescue those trapped inside. Images from the scene depict the building engulfed in flames, later reduced to a blackened shell.

Goa Police report that 20 of the 25 victims were staff members at the nightclub, many of whom were working in the basement and could not escape. Three women were among the deceased. Approximately 50 people sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at the Goa Medical College hospital.

Authorities have initiated legal action, questioning the club owners, Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, and filing a First Information Report (FIR). The Sarpanch of the Arpora-Nagoa panchayat, Roshan Redkar, was also detained. Further, four arrests were made of the management of the club: Rajiv Modak, Vivek Singh, Rajveer Singhania, and Priyanshu Thakur. Another manager, Bharat, was detained in Delhi. Saurabh Luthra remains absconding. Other clubs owned by Romeo Lane have been shut down due to fire safety violations. The Goa state government has ordered an investigation into the incident and mandated fire safety audits for all nightclubs in the area.

According to a technical evaluation, the venue, constructed largely of flammable materials like wood and bamboo, violated multiple safety regulations. These violations included hosting a live music show with pyrotechnics at the time the fire broke out and lacking an emergency exit door on the ground floor and deck floor. A police report also noted the absence of a fire safety exit in the basement.

The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing his sorrow. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who visited the site, has promised strict action against those found responsible for any negligence.

This tragedy highlights the critical importance of fire safety regulations and their enforcement, particularly in establishments frequented by large numbers of people. The loss of life and the devastation caused by the fire have cast a pall over Goa's vibrant nightlife scene and prompted a reassessment of safety standards in the region.