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Goa: A catastrophic fire ripped through the upscale nightlife hotspot Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora shortly after 1 am on Friday, killing 25 people and injuring more than 50, in what has become one of Goa’s worst nightclub disasters in recent years.

Eyewitnesses reported chaos as thick smoke swallowed the multi-level club within moments. Most victims, officials said, died of smoke inhalation even before they could reach the exits.

Victims: Tourists Among the Dead

Police have so far identified four tourists and 14 staff members among the deceased. The identities of seven others are still being confirmed as families gather at Goa Medical College (GMC), where many injured remain critical.

Blast Sound Under Probe — Cylinders Found Intact

Initial speculation pointed to a gas cylinder blast near the kitchen. However, Goa DGP clarified after inspection that all cylinders were intact, and the cause of the explosion-like sound remains a key focus of the probe.

Two-Hour Firefight

Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly two hours, navigating collapsing sections and intense heat. Rescue teams continued operations past dawn, retrieving bodies and surveying the charred structure.

The entire premises have now been sealed, and officials have begun questioning the club’s owners and management.

Preliminary Probe: Club Violated Fire Safety Norms

According to officials familiar with Goa’s fire regulations:

  • The club allegedly lacked mandatory emergency exits.

  • Gas installation checks and fire audits were either overdue or incomplete.

  • The building’s structural layout, including basement workspaces, may have intensified smoke entrapment, causing mass asphyxiation.

  • The establishment reportedly did not possess updated NoC clearances, a recurring issue in several nightlife properties in Goa.

These findings echo long-standing concerns raised by the Goa Fire & Emergency Services in its previous compliance drives, which flagged multiple beachbelt entertainment venues for expired or missing safety certifications.

DGP Jaspal Singh confirmed that investigators will scrutinize building approvals, fire compliance history, and responsibility of owners/managers in “every operational lapse that may have contributed to the tragedy.”

Goa CM, President, PM Condole; Inquiry Ordered

Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, who visited the site, called it “a very painful day for Goa” and ordered a full-scale inquiry into the cause and compliance failures.

President Droupadi Murmu said she was “deeply pained,” extending condolences and wishing for speedy recovery of the injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the incident “deeply saddening” and approved ₹2 lakh ex-gratia to each victim’s family and ₹50,000 for the injured from the PMNRF.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the loss of lives was “deeply painful,” adding that local authorities were working round the clock on rescue and relief.

Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also expressed grief.

 

‘Most Victims Were in the Basement’: MLA Michael Lobo

BJP MLA Michael Lobo, after inspecting the site, said many victims were workers stationed in the basement.

“Most deaths happened as people ran downstairs to escape smoke, unaware that the basement was choking first,” Lobo said, calling for an immediate safety audit of all major restaurants and clubs in the area.

Families Wait Outside Hospitals as Investigation Widens

As forensic teams sift through mangled interiors, distressed families continue to wait outside GMC and the sealed nightclub premises, seeking updates.

The tragedy has sparked renewed scrutiny of Goa’s nightlife safety ecosystem, with experts pointing to lax enforcement, illegal alterations in club structures, and overdue fire audits across the coastal belt.

Authorities have confirmed that:

  • A special investigation team (SIT) is being formed.

  • Forensic teams will examine electrical wiring, HVAC ducts, and flammable interiors, which are often ignored in high-density clubs.

  • Police may file criminal negligence charges once the liability chain is established.

The disaster has reignited public debate on unregulated nightlife expansion, with many demanding a comprehensive safety overhaul before Goa’s peak tourist season intensifies.

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