At least 25 people lost their lives in a tragic fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, Goa. The inferno, believed to have been triggered by a cylinder explosion, trapped several victims in the club’s basement.
BJP MLA Michael Lobo, who visited the scene, expressed deep sorrow and emphasized the urgent need for stricter safety measures. “We’ll have to carry out a safety audit of all clubs across Goa. It’s extremely important,” he said.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, while police have arrested the nightclub’s owner. DGP Alok Kumar confirmed that most of the recovered bodies were staff members.
Families and friends are mourning the loss of their loved ones following the devastating blaze, which also left seven people injured. Among the deceased was a Nepali national working as a chef at the establishment.
A friend of the victim, visibly emotional, recounted the painful moment he learned the news. “One of the deceased was my family friend from Nepal, Poorna Bahadur. He worked as a chef in the kitchen… He died in the incident last night,” he said.
He added, “I received a call at 5 a.m. informing me that someone from my hometown was inside.” Struggling to hold back tears, he confirmed: “I identified his body. He is no more.”
