Grief turned into raw anger outside the morgue of Goa Medical College and Hospital on Sunday. Relatives and friends of the 25 people killed in the horrific fire at the Arpora nightclub gathered under the harsh sun, demanding one thing: to confront the owners of the venue.
Families Left in Despair, Owners Nowhere to Be Found
The acrid smell of chemicals from the morgue mixed with the palpable despair of the crowd. Notably absent was any representative from the management of Birch By Romeo Lane, the nightclub where the inferno broke out. Many of the victims were migrant workers from states like Jharkhand and the Northeast, who had come to Goa for employment.
"We want to talk to the owners. Why else would we sit here?" asked a friend of victim Vivek Chhetri, capturing the collective sentiment. The crowd included people who had rushed from working overnight at other party venues across Goa.
A Tale of Abandonment and Loss
One young man, who works at a Vagator club run by the Luthra brothers—the owners of the burnt nightclub—spoke anonymously, fearing for his job. He made a grave allegation: "Those who knew of the fire ran away, but they did not inform our boys who were down in the basement kitchen. They ran and saved themselves, leaving the boys behind."
The tragic process of identification was underway, with many using WhatsApp photos sent by families back home to recognize the deceased. Narayan Mahto, a Jharkhand native working in Agacaim, was there to identify his two nephews, aged 18 and 22. "A third boy from my state died in the fire. They followed me here to find work barely 6 months ago," he said, heartbroken.
Logistical Nightmare and Pleas for Help
Beyond the immediate shock, a new wave of anxiety set in: how to send the bodies home. Huddled groups discussed the daunting and expensive task ahead. Padam, a young man from Nepal working in Goa, voiced a common plea: "Either the owners or state govt needs to look into this. How do I arrange to have a body sent from here to my country?"
Strikingly, Padam was there to identify the body of a victim he had never met, having come at 8 am after a call from a family friend of the deceased. He, like others, felt abandoned by the authorities who should have been present to guide them through the painful formalities. The afternoon sun beat down on a scene of profound loss, unanswered questions, and a desperate search for accountability.
