Panaji, Goa – The owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, where a devastating fire claimed the lives of 25 people, reportedly fled to Phuket, Thailand, within hours of the incident. The fire, which occurred late Saturday night, prompted a massive investigation and has raised serious questions about safety standards and regulatory compliance.
According to sources, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the nightclub, departed for Phuket on an IndiGo flight from Mumbai at 5:30 am on December 7, just hours after the fire broke out. The swift departure of the owners has led authorities to believe they were attempting to evade investigation. Nilesh Rane, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Public Relations Officer (PRO) for Goa Police, stated that their flight to Phuket "shows their intent to avoid police investigation".
The Goa Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the Luthra brothers, along with other unnamed individuals, for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, acts endangering life and personal safety, and negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter. A team of police officers was dispatched to Delhi to apprehend the owners, but they were not found at their residence. A look-out circular (LOC) was issued via the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) on Sunday evening. The Goa Police are coordinating with the Interpol Division of the CBI to apprehend the Luthra brothers.
The fire at Birch by Romeo Lane reportedly broke out around midnight on Saturday. Initial reports suggested a gas cylinder explosion as the cause, but Chief Minister Pramod Sawant later stated that the fire was likely triggered by bursting electrical firecrackers inside the club. The blaze rapidly engulfed the nightclub, trapping many inside. At least 25 people died, including four tourists, and many others were injured. Many of the deceased were staff members who were in the basement of the club at the time of the fire.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Goa government has initiated multiple investigations. Chief Minister Sawant has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident to identify the cause and fix responsibility. A fact-finding committee headed by a retired judge visited the nightclub on Monday. The State government has suspended three officers who were found to be involved in issuing or renewing permits to the nightclub. Several government officials involved in issuing permits and licenses to the establishment have been called for investigation to verify compliance lapses and procedural violations.
The Goa government has also issued an advisory outlining mandatory safety measures for nightclubs, restaurants, bars, event venues, and similar establishments. The advisory focuses on fire preparedness, emergency protocols, and stricter crowd-management norms.
The incident has sparked outrage and concern over fire safety standards in Goa's nightlife industry. Goa politician Michael Lobo called for a fire safety audit of all clubs in the region. Fires are relatively common in India due to poor building practices, overcrowding, and a lack of adherence to safety regulations.
