25 killed as massive fire guts Arpora nightclub in North Goa

PAnaji: At to the lowest degree 25 people were killed when a monumental go off, reportedly sparked by a serial publication of LPG piston chamber explosions, tore through Birch by Romeo Lane — a nightclub in Arpora, a coastal village in north Goa.Police said that most of those killed were staff members. “Three persons are believed to have died of burn injuries as a result of the explosion; others died of smoke inhalation,” officials said.“A massive fire broke out at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, North Goa, resulting in 25 deaths, out of whom 4 are confirmed to be tourists, 14 were staff members and the identity of 7 is yet to be established. Six persons are injured and their treatment is ongoing. The cause of fire is yet to be ascertained. Police and fire department investigation is in progress. Legal action is being taken,” the Goa Police said in an official statement.The fire broke out a little past midnight on Saturday night, and it spread quickly through the establishment, which was made of highly combustible material.Most of those who succumbed were working in the basement of the apartment, leaving them little time to escape, the police also said. The dead include three women.“Today is a very painful day for all of us in Goa. A major fire incident at Arpora has taken the lives of 23 people. I am deeply grieved and offer my heartfelt condolences to all the bereaved families in this hour of unimaginable loss,” Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said.The Chief Minister, who visited the site late on Saturday night, promised “the most stringent action under the law” against the establishment.“I visited the incident site and have ordered an inquiry into this incident. The inquiry will examine the exact cause of the fire and whether fire safety norms and building rules were followed. Those found responsible will face the most stringent action under the law — any negligence will be dealt with firmly,” Sawant also said via X, formerly Twitter.“This is very sad and very disturbing. Goa was always known as a safe tourist destination. We have to undertake a safety audit of all clubs and restaurants, especially of air-conditioned establishments, not just of the guest spaces but also of the working spaces,” local MLA Michael Lobo said.Speaking to reporters at the site, the Chief Minister said that the club was operating without many of the mandatory permissions and that an inquiry would be instituted into the incident.“The fire started on the ground floor of the nightclub, leaving those in the basement trapped and unable to escape and led to their death by suffocation,” the Chief Minister also said, quoting preliminary findings by fire staff.Romeo Lane, a nightclub in Goa, was operating on the borderlines of the law. Constructed on what was once a saltpan, the nightclub was issued a demolition notice by the local village panchayat as well as the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority. However, such demolition notice was stayed by the Directorate of Panchayats on appeal, allowing the club to continue to operate.