Residents of Sankwadi in Arpora endured a sleepless and terrifying Saturday night after a major fire broke out at a popular local nightclub, sending thick black smoke into their homes and triggering widespread panic.
A Night of Chaos and Smoke
Close to midnight, as locals were winding down after closing their small businesses along the busy Baga-Anjuna road, their routines were violently interrupted. Thick black smoke suddenly engulfed the area, forcing people out of their houses with burning eyes. What they witnessed outside left them deeply shaken. The Birch nightclub on Romeo Lane was ablaze, with flames lighting up the night sky and people running in confusion.
"I had stepped out because my eyes were burning, and I saw a huge fire in front of us," shared a local resident who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the incident. His immediate instinct was to help. He rushed back to his house, grabbed a pickaxe, and used it to break open the club's locked back exit door.
Local Heroes Prevent Further Tragedy
The quick thinking of nearby residents may have averted an even bigger disaster. The anonymous local, who lives opposite the nightclub, revealed a critical detail. Behind the kitchen, five or six gas cylinders were located. He and others swiftly pulled these cylinders to a safe distance. "If the cylinders had been left untouched, there could have been more damage," he stated, highlighting the imminent danger.
For those inside the club when the fire started, the experience was one of sheer terror. Jayesh Diukar, a 38-year-old staff member who works in the outdoor pizza kitchen and lives nearby, was present that night. "I just heard 'Run, run!', and I froze for a second, not knowing what to do," Diukar recounted. "I turned to see what was happening and we could see fire on the top (floor). The staff rushed to help the guests, pulled some of them out and directed them to the exit. There was so much confusion."
Aftermath: Grief and a Heavy Police Presence
While Diukar escaped unharmed, the emotional toll was heavy. On Sunday morning, he sat outside his home, his eyes fixed on the staff quarters across the road. This building, part of the nightclub complex, housed all the outstation staff. The morning after the tragedy, it stood eerily empty. "I have not been able to look at my phone. I'm scared to know how many staff have died," Diukar confessed. He has been part of the club since its inception in 2023. "The fire spread so quickly, it was everywhere within minutes."
The area around Birch nightclub was heavily cordoned off by police on Sunday. Officers guarded both exits, a mobile forensic van was deployed, and traffic police managed the scene. Alert personnel kept reporters, tourists, and curious locals at a distance. The intense police presence made most residents reluctant to speak on record, adding to the somber and tense atmosphere in the neighborhood.
