14 December,2025 09:50 AM IST | Mumbai | Arpika Bhosale
The devastation caused by the fire that killed 25 people at Birch by Romeo Lane, a nightclub in Arpora, Goa. Pic/Getty Images
Last New Year's Eve (2024), Goa's hotels, clubs and lounges bore a deserted look, giving rise to whispers that maybe the sunshine state had lost its sheen for tourists. And just when things were turning around, bringing hope that this Christmas and NYE would bring more tourism and business to Goan hotels and clubs, tragedy struck on December 6. A massive fire broke out at Arpora village nightclub, Birch by Romeo Lane, killing 25 people and casting a dark cloud over the future of India's party capital.
The investigation since has opened a can of worms - allegedly electric firecrackers were set off in the club, which was a tinderbox in itself, built with flammable materials, no working fire extinguishers or alarms, and an access route too narrow for fire engines.
Kishore Amati, a former journalist who grew up in Goa but moved to Mumbai two years ago. The corporate communications executive who now lives in Lokhandwala is distraught, angry and worried about his city's future and is tired of the lack of accountability. "I spent years reporting on Goa's nightlife, so sadly, none of this shocks me anymore," he says, "Anyone who knows Goa's coastline can point out scores of establishments in the north and south that have gone up by openly flouting CRZ norms and every other rule meant to protect the land. Goa has been running on greed for years and corners are cut at every stage because âGoa mein sab chalta hai',"he says.
Fire safety regulations were not the only breach at the nightclub. Last week, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant ordered around 198 square metres of Birch to be demolished as it was encroaching on the beach in violation of coastal regulations.
"Frankly, I refuse to believe that the local panchayat, MLAs, tourism department, the administration and police had no idea that this establishment was operating without basic safety measures. They knew - everyone knew. The loud statements by stakeholders we are seeing now are nothing more than attempts to extract mileage from a tragedy," says Amati.
This was no freak incident, say Goans. "Local governance has been weak for years. When deep-pocketed businesses enter with the right political backing, rules stop mattering. When enforcement is this weak, disasters like this are not freak occurrences; they are almost inevitable. It has been widely reported that Goa's conviction rate was barely 33 per cent in 2023, which tells you everything about how little accountability actually sticks," Amati says, adding, "Give it a few days, and Goa will slip back into âbusiness as usual'," he rues.
Shohail Furtado has been a vocal activist in his battle to protect Goa, working for decades to mobilise locals against the greed that's taking over the state's landscape. In his most recent social media video on Instagram (@furtado_shohail), he says, "It will be your home and family who will be next⦠come let's fix Goa together before it becomes a disaster."
"Right now, it feels like the California Gold Rush," he tells us, "People are just digging, and there are going to be some short-term gains for a few people, but destruction for the rest of us in the long term. We were blessed with the sea on one side, ghats on the other. We have rivers with sweet water. Goa is naturally set up to be a really good tourist hub, but we are destroying it. If you're coming to Goa from Mumbai, you wouldn't want to exchange one concrete jungle for another, would you? But if you visit some places in the north like Panaji, it is very similar to Mumbai's AQI," he adds.
He shares how the land grab wave took over Goa in the past few decades. "Land was cheaper than Gurgaon and Delhi which attracted builders to pick up land here, for quick gains," he adds.
The problem grew worse with new business owners coming in who didn't respect Goa's unique charms and only focused on maximising use of space and profits.
Craig Afonso has been a event manager pan India and 13 of those years have been in Goa. He recalls, "Totos and Mambos were the big original nightclubs when we were growing up. They were open-air beach clubs that gave you that Goa vibe. Now club owners are making enclosed spaces for a city club vibe."
And now the entire state might pay for these mistakes. Along with the loss of life, there are fears that the tragedy - occurring just before the peak Christmas-NYE season - may also wipe out the tourism pipeline that keeps lakhs of livelihoods afloat. Afonso says, "This is the peak season, so it is a point of concern for most of us," he says, "We want Goa to do well and want business to come here, as long as it is done lawfully."
The Goa nightclub fire is not an isolated case of blatant disregard for laws, says Furtado. "There are a lot of such restaurants and clubs. Many, especially in north Goa, are illegal. I read an article about some clubs that are still shown as paddy fields on paper [in the government's land use records]," he says. "For example, a big hotel is being built across a virgin beach that is a turtle nesting site. The Birch owners, too, have another property that has come under the scanner as well."
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has vowed to extradite the Luthra brothers back to India, charge them for murder and has promised that any illegal erections in commercial spaces, will be demolished. Tahir Noronha, an architect currently in the US pursuing a PhD in Planning with a focus on Goa, believes that the state already has rules in place to protect both citizens and the environment but enforcement is the issue. "We have the CRZ notifications, the Goa Building Construction Regulations, and Goa Town and Country Planning Act that have clear safety standards set for commercial spaces but they have been obviously flouted," he says, "Every building needs a six-metre-wide road to, it and a 3.5 metre access road around the property for fire engines.
Every floor needs two staircases built with fire retardant materials. We have seen that this club had none of these prerequisites."
Reports have emerged that the Birch had spiral stairs, which likely led to the fire spreading faster. "We need to make sure that all these issues are addressed well before the structure is given permission," Noronha adds.
Model, actor, and social media personality Scarlett Rose had moved to Mumbai in 2013 for work. Then, during the pandemic, she moved back to Goa, the place that has her heart, "Coming back to Goa after seven years in Mumbai was like rediscovering a familiar place with a completely new energy," she says, "The biggest change has been the way Goa has evolved from a single-dimension beach destination into a place that offers culture, creativity, wellness, and food that feel genuinely rooted here. I hope this tragedy becomes the catalyst for better structure, training, and clarity," she says.
The way forward? "Simplified compliance, more awareness on safety and licensing, and consistent standards across establishments will help genuine operators who want to do things right. What gives me confidence now is that the conversation has changed. Everyone - the government, industry, locals, even influencers - are talking about safety as non-negotiable.
I believe we are moving in that direction," she asserts.
Dec 6
Fire at Goan club, Birch by Romeo Lane, kills 25, 21 of whom are the club's employees. Hours later, club owners, the Luthra brothers (Gaurav and Saurabh), flee from Delhi to Phuket
Dec 11
Thai police find and arrest the two on December 11.
Dec 12
Officials say Thailand has begun deportation process for the siblings
For restaurant and bar owners in Mumbai, the Goa tragedy has brought back chilling reminders of the blaze at two pubs at Kamala Mills on December 29, 2017, that killed 14 people and highlighted major fire safety violations. Gaurav Dabrai, co-owner of Praia, the rooftop eatery and bar at Atria Mall in Worli, recalls opening one of his properties the very next day and the pressure it entailed. "After that fire, BMC, as well as owners of commercial properties, ensured that fire safety became the norm," he says. "Mumbai too has learned the lesson the hard way and because of which we have come a long way in the past few years," he adds.
Dabrai takes pride in the fact that not only do his properties follow all norms, but his staff is also trained to handle evacuation smoothly.
Right:âExhaust shoots/fans are cleaned on a schedule
Right:âUse of fire-retardant materials on upholstery and more
Right: Use of fireproof paints in open areas
