At least 25 people were killed and six others injured after a massive fire broke out at a nightclub in North Goa’s Arpora village in the early hours of Sunday, 7 December. The blaze at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub has raised serious questions about safety compliance and regulatory oversight.
The fire erupted shortly after midnight, engulfing the popular party venue located approximately 25 kilometres from state capital Panaji. Among the deceased were four tourists and 14 staff members, while authorities are yet to establish the identity of seven other victims. Nine injured persons remain admitted at Goa Medical College and Hospital.
Preliminary investigations suggest most victims died of suffocation after being trapped in the basement area, which housed the kitchen. The fire appears to have started on the first floor, where a DJ performance was scheduled around 10 pm on Saturday evening. As flames spread rapidly, panicked guests rushed towards exits, but staff members working in the basement found themselves trapped in an area that lacked proper exit points and ventilation.
“The fire was mainly concentrated around the kitchen area on the ground floor,” said Goa Director General of Police Alok Kumar. “Maximum bodies were retrieved from the kitchen area, suggesting that the victims were employed at the club. Two bodies have been found on the staircase.”
The nightclub’s construction has come under severe scrutiny. Roshan Redkar, sarpanch of Arpora village panchayat, revealed that the building was constructed without a valid licence. “There were complaints against the club. During our inquiry, we found it had no construction licence. A demolition notice was issued after following due process, but the order was stayed after an appeal,” Redkar said.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who visited the site, confirmed that the nightclub had not complied with fire safety norms. “We will take action against the club management and also against the officials who allowed it to operate despite flouting safety norms,” Sawant announced. He has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident and promised stringent action against those responsible.
The narrow access to the venue compounded rescue efforts, with fire brigades forced to park 400 metres away. Eyewitnesses reported that the palm-leaf construction material caught fire easily, allowing flames to spread rapidly through the structure. Govind Jaiswal, a security guard at a neighbouring resort, said he heard a loud explosion and saw a large blaze on the club’s roof.
The tragedy has sparked political controversy, with the Congress party demanding Sawant’s resignation on moral and political grounds. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, termed it “a criminal failure of safety and governance” and called for a thorough, transparent probe.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and assured all possible assistance to those affected. President Droupadi Murmu also conveyed her condolences to the bereaved families.
The Goa Church expressed grief over the deaths, with the Archbishop of Goa and Daman and the Auxiliary Bishop conveying their sadness. “It is with a heavy heart that we extend our deepest condolences to the grieving families affected by the tragic incident. In this time of profound grief, we raise a prayer, asking God to surround the bereaved with His comfort and strength,” said Fr Barry Cardozo, director of Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has called for a fire safety audit of all clubs in the area. The Calangute panchayat will issue notices to all nightclubs on Monday, asking them to provide fire safety permissions, with licences to be cancelled for those lacking proper documentation.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the morgue at Goa Medical College and Hospital on Sunday, awaiting information about their loved ones. Some families from Jharkhand, whose relatives worked as helpers and cooks at the club, demanded that the nightclub owner arrange for transportation of the bodies back home.
Investigators are examining whether the fire was caused by a pyro sparkle gun coming into contact with flammable material on the roof. Police are also verifying whether the club had obtained the requisite fire safety no-objection certificate.
