A catastrophic fire erupted at a popular nightclub in North Goa in the early hours of Sunday, resulting in a significant loss of life. The incident, which occurred at the Birch by Romeo Lane venue in Arpora, has claimed at least 25 lives and left six others injured, according to official statements.
Timeline of a Tragedy
The first emergency calls reached authorities at 12:04 AM. Police, fire services, and ambulance teams were swiftly deployed to the scene. Initial reports confirmed 23 fatalities, but the toll was later revised to 25 after rescue workers discovered two more victims during their operations. Officials stated that among the deceased are four tourists and 14 staff members, while the identities of seven others are still being verified. The injured are currently receiving medical care at local hospitals.
An eyewitness account provided to PTI described a scene of utter panic. Approximately 100 people were on the dance floor when the fire started. As thick smoke rapidly filled the structure, many patrons and staff rushed downstairs towards the kitchen area, where they became trapped in the basement. Preliminary investigations point to a cylinder explosion as the likely cause of the blaze. While three victims died from burns, the majority succumbed to severe suffocation due to the intense smoke.
Official Response and Investigation
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited the site on Sunday morning, calling it a tragic day for the state. He has ordered a thorough probe into the fire's origin and to check for any violations of safety protocols by the nightclub management. Sawant assured that strict action would be taken against the club owners and any officials found responsible for allowing operations without mandatory fire safety clearances.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound grief over the incident and spoke with CM Sawant about the relief efforts. He announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh for the families of each deceased and ₹50,000 for each injured person from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). President Droupadi Murmu also conveyed her condolences on social media platform X, praying for strength for the bereaved families and a speedy recovery for the injured.
Helpline Numbers for Assistance
In the aftermath, the Goa government activated several emergency helplines to aid families, tourists, and residents seeking information or support. The key contacts issued are:
- District Control Room, North Goa Collectorate: 0832-2225383
- Goa Police Control Room (North Goa): 7875756000
Dedicated officials have been assigned for coordination:
- Bardez-I: Varsha S. Parab – 8308014526
- Bardez-II: Vasant Dabholkar – 7083234963
- Tiswadi: Bhiku L. Gawas – 9421151048
- Mamlatdar Offices: Anant Rajaram Malik (9637779277) & Dattaprasad Toraskar (9923882807)
Residents in the vicinity reported hearing a loud blast before seeing chaos ensue and ambulances arrive. Goa DGP Alok Kumar confirmed that all bodies have been recovered and stated that the investigation will now focus on fixing responsibility for this devastating tragedy.
