Goa: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed deep grief over the devastating nightclub fire in Goa that claimed 25 lives, and spoke directly with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to review relief efforts. The late-night blaze at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora has emerged as one of the worst fire incidents the state has witnessed in recent years.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister conveyed his condolences, saying the tragedy was “deeply saddening” and wished a swift recovery for the injured. He added that the state government was extending all necessary support to those affected.
The Prime Minister’s Office later announced financial assistance for the victims’ families. An ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the PMNRF will be provided to the next of kin of each person who died, while those injured will receive ₹50,000.
The fire broke out on Saturday night at the riverside nightclub, which had become a prominent weekend hotspot since opening last year. According to CM Sawant, most of the victims worked in the club’s kitchen, including three women. He said a few tourists were also among the dead.
Sawant told reporters that only three people died from burn injuries, with the remaining victims succumbing to suffocation after being trapped inside the structure.
The state government has initiated investigations into the cause of the fire and is assessing whether safety lapses contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze. The tragedy has prompted calls for stricter enforcement of fire-safety regulations across Goa’s popular nightlife destinations.
