Goa: The Goa government has launched a high-level inquiry and initiated criminal action following the nightclub fire in Arpora that left 25 people dead in the early hours of Sunday. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed that a magisterial probe is underway and that police have registered an FIR against the club’s owner and general manager.
The blaze erupted shortly after midnight at Birch by Romeo Lane, a relatively new nightlife destination about 25 kilometres from Panaji. The venue, which opened last year, was crowded when flames tore through its upper floor, trapping patrons as they attempted to escape.
Sawant, who has been monitoring developments, said in a post on X that all six injured survivors remain stable and are receiving treatment at government facilities. He emphasised that the inquiry will determine not only the cause of the fire but also who should be held accountable for the lapses that led to the tragedy.
In remarks to PTI, the Chief Minister said arrests of the nightclub’s owner and general manager are imminent. “This is the first time Goa has witnessed an incident of this scale inside an entertainment venue,” he noted, calling the deaths a result of preventable failures.
Early findings from the probe suggest the fire began on the club’s first floor. Sawant said overcrowding and inadequate exits worsened the situation, leaving many unable to flee. Some patrons reportedly ran toward the ground floor in search of safety but became trapped there as the blaze intensified.
Authorities are now examining whether safety norms were overlooked and whether emergency routes were obstructed. The state government has signalled that stronger enforcement measures may follow as the investigation progresses, with officials stressing that accountability will be pursued at every level.
