Goa: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has revealed that early findings into the catastrophic fire at an Arpora nightclub point to “electric firecrackers” being ignited indoors — a lapse that may have triggered the blaze which claimed 25 lives late Saturday night.
The tragedy unfolded at “Birch by Romeo Lane,” a North Goa hotspot packed with patrons when flames ripped through the structure just before midnight. What began as a night of weekend festivities turned into one of the state’s deadliest fire incidents in recent years, exposing major safety violations and administrative negligence.
According to officials, the club had been operating without even a basic fire department clearance. Sawant said preliminary reports indicated blatant disregard for fire safety norms, and he has ordered top bureaucrats — Chief Secretary V. Candavelou and DGP Alok Kumar — to identify government personnel who enabled the venue to function despite repeated violations.
Victims Trapped Amid Chaos
Of the 25 people who lost their lives, 20 were staff members hailing from multiple states — including Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal — as well as four Nepali nationals. Five tourists, including four from Delhi, also perished. Six others were injured, with five still receiving treatment.
Fire officials said most deaths were caused by suffocation, as many victims were trapped on the ground floor and in the kitchen while trying to flee. Narrow internal exits, a constricted bridge leading to the club, and congested lanes in the area hindered escape and delayed rescue vehicles. Water tankers had to be positioned nearly 400 metres away due to lack of access.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as flames erupted near the dance floor. One survivor from Delhi said electric firecrackers were set off while dancers performed, which triggered a stampede-like situation. Another tourist recounted that the palm-leaf structures inside the club caught fire almost instantly, engulfing the venue within minutes.
Arrests, Suspensions, and Expanding Probe
Police have arrested four senior staffers — chief general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, and gate manager Riyanshu Thakur. An FIR has been lodged against owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, as well as event organisers.
The fallout has also reached government offices. Three senior officials — a former Director of Panchayats, a Goa Pollution Control Board member secretary, and the then secretary of the Arpora-Nagoa panchayat — have been suspended for allegedly allowing the nightclub to begin operations last year without proper approvals.
A three-member inquiry panel, including the South Goa Collector and senior fire and forensic officials, has been tasked with submitting a report within a week.
Local leaders claim the club was embroiled in internal disputes and lacked construction permits. Arpora-Nagoa sarpanch Roshan Redkar said a demolition notice issued by the panchayat had been halted by higher authorities, allowing the club to continue business despite irregularities.
Government Promises Crackdown
Pramod Sawant said an extensive audit of high-footfall venues and unlicensed establishments will now be conducted statewide. The state will also provide ex-gratia relief of ₹5 lakh to families of each victim and ₹50,000 to those injured. Arrangements are being made to transport the bodies of staff members to their home states.
As the investigation deepens, the tragedy has reignited concerns about lax enforcement of safety standards in Goa’s booming nightlife sector — a failure that, this time, cost 25 lives.
