A tragic late-night fire at Birch by Romeo Lane, a popular restaurant-cum-nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, claimed between 23 and 25 lives in the early hours of Sunday. The devastating incident occurred shortly after midnight when a suspected cylinder blast triggered a massive blaze that rapidly engulfed the premises. Most of the deceased were staff members working in the basement and kitchen areas, who reportedly died due to suffocation from the thick smoke, while a few suffered fatal burn injuries. Among the dead are women employees and several tourists who were present at the venue.
Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud explosion moments before the fire spread, supporting the Goa Police Chief’s statement that a cylinder blast was the likely cause. Firefighters and police personnel rushed to the spot and managed to bring the blaze under control after an intense operation. Rescue teams later recovered charred bodies from the basement, where many workers were trapped with no escape route.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant termed it a “very painful day” for the state and ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. He confirmed that initial findings point to serious violations of fire safety norms by the establishment. The state government has assured strict action against the club management and any officials who may have allowed it to operate despite lapses. A local MLA has demanded a full safety audit of all restaurants, clubs, and entertainment venues across Goa to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of each deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured. The police have registered a case and initiated a detailed investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire, the extent of safety violations, and accountability of those involved.
The tragic incident has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions about safety regulations in Goa’s booming nightlife sector, with citizens and officials calling for stricter enforcement to ensure such a disaster never occurs again.