Police have arrested the managers of ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ after a blaze, reportedly triggered by indoor fireworks, trapped dozens of partygoers and staff inside the venue.
At least 25 people lost their lives and over 50 were injured when fire ripped through a crowded nightclub in North Goa’s Arpora village late Saturday night. Most victims died from suffocation after becoming trapped in the basement and kitchen when flames cut off their only way out. Among the dead are four tourists and 20 staff members.
The fire started just before midnight at Birch by Romeo Lane, a well-known nightspot sitting on an open field locals call a “salt pan.” People who were there say the disaster unfolded during a live dance performance when someone fired off a “pyro sparkle gun” or electric firecracker. It ignited the club’s flammable wooden ceiling and palm-leaf decorations.
What happened next was terrifying. The fire spread fast, throwing the venue into complete darkness. Panic took over. Police later discovered the club had no emergency exit on the ground floor, so when people desperately searched for a way out, many ran toward the kitchen and basement. They thought they’d find safety there. Instead, they found themselves cornered by flames and choking smoke.
Goa Police have arrested four staff members, including the general manager, and filed charges against the owners, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, for culpable homicide. It turns out the club had been operating even after receiving a demolition notice for illegal construction. That notice had been put on hold by higher authorities.
“The fire spread quickly because of the wooden ceiling,” a senior police official explained at the scene. “The staff members working in the basement were effectively trapped because it lacked an exit.”
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited what’s left of the club and promised tough action. “The incident is very unfortunate for a tourism state like Goa,” he told reporters. “The people who run such things illegally will face the most stringent action.”
The tragedy has put a dark cloud over Goa’s peak tourist season and exposed a troubling pattern: safety violations are widespread in the state’s thriving nightlife industry, where temporary structures often go up without proper fire clearances.
Early reports pointed to a gas cylinder explosion, but forensic teams are now zeroing in on those indoor pyrotechnics. It’s a dangerous practice that remains surprisingly common in Indian clubs. The same thing caused the deadly Kamala Mills fire in Mumbai back in 2017.
The state government has ordered an immediate fire safety audit of every club and restaurant along the North Goa coast. Officials warned that any venue caught breaking safety rules or missing the required “No Objection Certificate” will be shut down right away. They’re determined not to let something like this happen again.
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