Goa fire: No clearances, only 1 exit, no safety - How negligence turned a nightclub into a death trap

After a deadly fire at a nightclub in Goa claimed 25 lives, the police have booked the club’s owners, partners, manager, event organisers and other staff on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The tragedy occurred late on Saturday night at a nightclub named Birch by Romeo Lane in Arporam, North Goa. Among the victims were five tourists.

An FIR has been registered at the Anjuna police station based on a complaint filed by Sub-Inspector Navneet Goltekar. The complaint names Saurabh Luthra, chairman of Romeo Lane, his brother Gaurav Luthra and other unnamed partners, along with the manager, event organisers and other members of the management team.

According to the FIR, the accused persons organised a fire show at the club without taking proper safety measures. It stated that the club lacked fire safety equipment and other essential safety arrangements, even though the organisers were fully aware that such an event could result in a serious fire accident. The police said this negligence directly caused the deaths of 25 people and injuries to many others.

Investigators also found that the club did not have an emergency exit on either the ground floor or the deck floor, making it extremely difficult for people to evacuate during the fire. This led to panic and overcrowding as guests tried to escape the burning premises.

Serious safety violations uncovered

Further investigations revealed that the establishment was operating without the required permissions. "According to records, the establishment did not obtain a valid NOC from the fire department, indicating non-compliance with mandatory fire safety regulations," fire department director Nitin Raiker was quoted by TOI as saying.

A list of serious safety lapses was found during the inspection. These included the absence of a working fire alarm system and automatic sprinkler system, lack of smoke extraction and proper ventilation in the basement area, and an insufficient number of emergency exits.

The exits that did exist were also not wide enough to handle a large crowd in case of an emergency. In addition, the club lacked illuminated exit signboards, emergency lighting, fire-rated doors, proper compartmentalisation to control the spread of fire, and a clear evacuation plan.

Based on these findings, the police have registered the case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to culpable homicide, acts endangering life, and negligent conduct involving fire and combustible materials.