NATIONAL: Goa’s Deadly Inferno: Safety Ignored, Lives Lost
Blaze Erupts in Popular Spot
A devastating fire ripped through the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora’s vibrant night scene on December 6, 2025, just before midnight.
Around 100 revelers packed the dance floor for a Bollywood-themed bash when indoor fireworks sparked the chaos. The flames spread fast, fueled by flammable palm-leaf setups, turning celebration into tragedy.
Heartbreaking Toll
Twenty-five souls perished, mostly from suffocation in the smoke-choked lower levels, where some sought escape through the kitchen.
Victims included 20 staff from states like Jharkhand and Maharashtra, one Nepali worker, and four tourists from a Delhi family. Six others battle serious injuries, with about 50 treated overall.
Rescue Hampered by Terrain
Firefighters raced to the call at 12:04 a.m., but narrow lanes and a bridge over a lagoon stalled them 400 meters short.
It took two grueling hours to douse the blaze, with rescuers pulling bodies through the night.
Eyewitness Fatima Sheikh from Hyderabad later shared how thatched structures accelerated the inferno’s fury.
Roots in Neglect
Local leaders point to the club’s illegal build, lacking fire clearances and basic exits despite repeated demolition orders from Arpora-Nagoa panchayat.
Sarpanch Roshan Redkar noted stalled enforcement due to higher-up interventions and owner disputes. Such oversights amplified the horror, trapping people in a deathtrap disguised as fun.
Swift Official Reaction
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the loss “deeply saddening,” offering heartfelt condolences to grieving kin.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant labeled it Goa’s darkest day, vowing a thorough probe with results in a week and mandating safety audits for all nearby venues. He assured aid for families and justice for the fallen.
Holding Accountable
Four managers face arrest, including the site’s head, while owners and even the sarpanch endure questioning under FIRs.
Broader crackdowns shut down sister clubs for violations, spotlighting lax oversight in Goa’s party hub. As bodies head home identified, the push for real change hangs in the balance.