At least 25 people lost their lives and several others sustained injuries after a devastating fire engulfed a nightclub in Goa on Saturday night. The blaze has exposed serious illegalities in the club’s operations and highlighted glaring laxity on the part of government authorities in enforcing safety regulations.
The state government has confirmed that all victims, including 20 staff members, have been identified. Among the deceased were five tourists hailing from Delhi and Karnataka.
Initially, police officials suggested that the fire might have been triggered by a cylinder blast. However, eyewitnesses have provided a different account, asserting that the blaze started due to the use of cold pyro guns during a dance performance. Speaking to national media outlets, several eyewitnesses stated that sparks from the fireworks device came into direct contact with the club’s thatched roof made of bamboo and fibre sheets, igniting the fire.
According to eyewitnesses, approximately 200 people were inside the premises when the incident occurred.
“It started when a belly dance performance was underway. The performers used some cold pyro sticks which upon ignition leapt skywards and came in contact with the ceiling made of bamboo, fibre and straw-type material. This caused some sparks and fumes on the roof and within a few minutes, the whole place was burning,” one eyewitness told reporters.
The tragedy unfolded at ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’, a nightclub located in Arpora. In the aftermath of the fire, it has emerged that the establishment had not received any official permission to operate.
Compounding the disaster were severe structural deficiencies: narrow entry and exit lanes, along with an inadequate number of exit doors, severely hampered evacuation efforts. The narrow approach roads in the area also prevented fire tenders from reaching the site directly, forcing them to be stationed roughly 400 metres away.
In connection with the deadly incident, police have arrested four individuals associated with the club’s management:
- Chief general manager Rajiv Modak, 49
- Gate manager Priyanshu Thakur, 32
- Bar manager Rajveer Singhania, 32
- General manager Vivek Singh, 27
The Goa government has constituted a high-level probe panel to investigate the circumstances leading to the fire. The panel comprises the South Goa Collector, the Deputy Director of Fire and Emergency Services, and the Director of the Forensic Laboratory. It has been directed to submit its findings within one week.
Additionally, the state chief minister has announced financial assistance from the State Disaster Management Authority Funds: an ex-gratia payment of ₹five lakh to the next of kin of each deceased person and ₹50,000 to each of the injured.
Also Read: 25 dead in Goa nightclub fire after cylinder blast; 4 arrested
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