A devastating fire that erupted in a popular nightclub in North Goa in the early hours of Sunday has resulted in a tragic loss of 23 lives. The incident has sent shockwaves through the coastal state, raising serious questions about safety compliance in entertainment venues.
Midnight Inferno at Birch By Romeo Lane
The blaze broke out at the Birch By Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, Goa, shortly after midnight on Sunday. Emergency services received the first distress call at 12:04 am, prompting an immediate response from police, fire tenders, and ambulance teams who worked through the night.
Preliminary investigations strongly point towards a cylinder explosion as the likely trigger for the catastrophic fire. Residents in the vicinity reported hearing a loud blast before seeing thick, black smoke engulf the structure.
Victims Succumb to Burns and Suffocation
The human toll of the disaster is severe. Officials confirmed that the 23 deceased include 20 men and three women. A significant majority of the victims were staff members who were working inside the premises, particularly in the basement area. A few tourists are also reported to be among the fatalities.
The cause of death for most was severe suffocation, as the enclosed space rapidly filled with toxic smoke. Only three of the victims died directly from burn injuries. In addition to the fatalities, over 50 injured individuals were rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment.
Goa's Director General of Police, Alok Kumar, stated that the fire was brought under control and that all 23 bodies have been recovered from the site.
Leadership Reacts, Promises Stringent Action
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited the charred site early Sunday morning, calling it an "extremely distressing tragedy" for the state. He emphasized that the incident is particularly unfortunate for a tourism-centric destination like Goa.
CM Sawant announced a full investigation, stating that primary information indicates the nightclub had not followed mandated fire safety norms. He vowed that the probe would determine the exact cause and that the most stringent legal action would be taken against the club's management and any officials found responsible for allowing operations without proper safeguards.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep shock and condolences, terming the event "deeply saddening." After speaking with CM Sawant regarding relief efforts, the PM announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh for the family of each deceased and ₹50,000 for each injured person from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF). The President of India also mourned the loss of precious lives.
The tragedy has sparked immediate calls for stricter enforcement. Local MLA Michael Lobo expressed his disturbance over the incident and stressed the urgent need for a safety audit of all clubs across Goa to prevent such disasters in the future, highlighting the paramount importance of safety for both tourists and workers.
