Goa nightclub tragedy: CM orders magisterial probe, FIR against owner & GM; top developments

Goa nightclub tragedy

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the fire at a nightclub which claimed 25 lives. Speaking to PTI, Sawant said an FIR has been lodged against the owner and the general manager of the nightclub and they would be arrested.

The fire broke out at Birch by Romeo Lane after midnight. The popular party venue at Arpora village, located around 25 km from the state capital Panaji, opened last year.

CM Sawant, in a post on X, said, "I am closely reviewing the situation arising from the tragic fire incident at Arpora, in which 25 people have lost their lives and six have been injured." "All six injured persons are in a stable condition and are receiving the best medical care. I have ordered a magisterial inquiry into the entire incident to identify the cause and fix responsibility," he said.

Speaking to PTI, Sawant said the police have registered an FIR against the owner and the general manager of the nightclub, and they would be arrested.

‘Goa nighclub violated fire safety norms, had no NOC’: Officials;

Romeo Lane in North Goa lacked the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) and violated fire safety norms, Director of Fire & Emergency Services Nitin V. Raiker said on Sunday.

According to Raiker, most of the 25 people who died in the Arpora nightclub fire in North Goa succumbed to suffocation. He stated that the blaze, triggered during a club party with a fire show, spread through the wooden structures of the building, and smoke descended to the basement where many victims were trapped.

“Most people died due to suffocation in the basement and kitchen area. I received information that there was a club party going on, and a fire show was organised in the club. The wooden parts of the club caught fire, and smoke spread throughout the building. The smoke descended to the basement, and many people died due to suffocation. They had not obtained any fire NOC, and no fire protection measures were followed. The department had not granted any fire NOC for running this club," he told CNN New18.

Raiker further said that fire services rushed to the spot immediately after the incident was reported and the blaze was brought under control within half an hour.

“The incident happened at 12:30 am. We received the information that there is some fire incident at Romeo Lane. Fire services were rushed towards the spot immediately. In half an hour we extinguished the fire," he said.

According to the Goa Police, the death toll in the Arpora nightclub fire has risen to 25. The victims include four tourists and 14 members of the club’s staff, while the identities of seven others are yet to be established.

PM Modi announces 2 lakh ex-gratia for kin of each deceased

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the Arpora nightclub fire, calling it a “deeply saddening" tragedy. He said he had spoken to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and assured full support.

PM Modi also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the families of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the incident