A devastating fire at the popular Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in North Goa’s Arpora claimed at least 25 lives early Sunday, with eyewitnesses describing scenes of chaos, panic and fatal missteps inside the packed venue. The blaze erupted shortly after midnight, reportedly beginning on the first floor where around 100 people were dancing. The club, constructed with highly flammable materials, was engulfed within minutes.
Tourist Fatima Shaikh recalled the sudden commotion as flames rose. In the rush to escape, many people mistakenly ran downstairs into the kitchen on the ground floor, where they became trapped along with staff members. Most of the victims 14 in total were kitchen workers from states including Nepal, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Assam.
Authorities said narrow access roads severely hampered rescue operations. Fire brigades were forced to park nearly 400 metres away due to the club's restricted entry, contributing to delays that cost lives. Many victims reportedly died of suffocation as they remained trapped inside the building.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who visited the site, said the nightclub had not followed fire safety norms. He confirmed arrests of the club’s chief general manager and three staff members, and promised strict action against those responsible, including officials who allowed the establishment to operate despite violations.
Local panchayat authorities said the club was built without proper permissions, and a demolition notice had earlier been issued but later stayed. With public outrage rising, the government and local bodies have announced safety audits of all nightclubs in the region.
The tragedy has sparked urgent calls for stronger regulation, better emergency access, and stricter enforcement of fire safety standards to prevent such incidents from recurring in Goa’s nightlife hubs.
