Illegal club goes up in flames in peak season as people die, and officials now face heat for letting it run; most of the deaths were caused by suffocation, as the victims got trapped on the ground floor of 'Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub at Arpora, 25 km from Panaji
Smoke and flames rise from the Goa nightclub where a fire broke out after midnight Sunday, killing 25 people
Weekend revelry turned into a horrific tragedy as a massive fire tore through a nightclub in North Goa after midnight on Sunday, claiming 25 lives and leaving six persons injured. Most of the deaths were caused by suffocation, as the victims got trapped on the ground floor of 'Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub at Arpora, 25 km from Panaji, a fire official said.
The construction was unauthorised but the demolition notice served to the club had been stayed by a higher authority, claimed a village official, as Chief Minister Pramod Sawant vowed action against officials who allowed it to operate despite the violation of safety norms. The deceased included four tourists and 14 staff members, while the identity of the remaining seven was yet to be established, the police said.
Charred remains at the nightclub where a fire broke out
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, among others, expressed grief over the loss of lives.A preliminary inquiry indicated that the fire started on the first floor, and due to congestion and small doors, customers could not move out. “Some of them rushed to the ground floor and got trapped there,” CM Sawant said.
“We will take action against the club management and also against the officials who allowed it to operate despite flouting safety norms,” Sawant said. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against the owner and general manager of the nightclub and they would be arrested, he added. “This is an unfortunate incident during the peak tourist season in the coastal state,” the CM said, adding, “We will conduct a detailed inquiry,” he added.
A burnt victim is rushed to hospital after the Goa nightclub fire that killed 25. Pics/PTI
Capital cracks whip on party hotspots
With Christmas and New Year crowds expected to surge, the Delhi Police announced that patrolling will be intensified across major party zones, and that clubs, bars, restaurants, and event venues have been instructed to review their fire safety compliance.
CM Pramod Sawant
These directions follow a deadly blaze at a nightclub in Goa that resulted in the deaths of 25 people on Saturday, leading to renewed scrutiny of fire preparedness in entertainment venues across the country. Police said establishments in Delhi must ensure that fire extinguishers are functional, exits are unobstructed, and electrical loads are monitored. They said nights with heavy crowds require strict adherence to emergency protocols.
‘A man-made tragedy’
Senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai questioned how the nightclub was allowed to operate. In a post on X, he wrote “The club was built on salt pan and orchard-zoned land. It had no construction licence from the Town and Country Planning Department. How did the local panchayat give permission? How were electricity and water connections granted?... Was there any fire safety audit? This is a man-made tragedy. Grief after the tragedy isn’t the answer. We don’t need another inquiry that ends up in a government file, we need accountability to be fixed.”
Modi promises aid as toll rises
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant after a nightclub blaze in the coastal state claimed 25 lives. “The fire mishap in Arpora, Goa is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest,” Modi posted on X. “Spoke to Goa CM Dr Pramod Sawant Ji about the situation. The State Government is providing all possible assistance to those affected,” Modi said.
Shack tied to nightclub sealed
A shack belonging to the promoters of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub has been sealed, an official said. District officials visited shack ‘Romeo Lane’ at Vagator beach this evening, after which the sealing action was taken, he informed.
Panic stampede traps dozens in kitchen
At least 100 persons were on the dance floor of a nightclub in North Goa when a fire broke out there, and in an attempt to escape, some of them ran downstairs to its kitchen where they got trapped along with the staff, according to an eyewitness. “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,” Fatima Shaikh, a tourist from Hyderabad, told PTI at Arpora in the wee hours of Sunday. The nightclub was jam-packed as it was the weekend, and at least 100 persons were on the dance floor, she said. Shaikh said that after the blaze erupted, some of the tourists started running downstairs and, in the melee, went to the kitchen located on the ground floor.
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