Goa (Rajeev Sharma): The Goa administration has ordered a detailed magisterial investigation into the fatal nightclub fire in Arpora, as police move ahead with criminal charges against the establishment’s management. The disaster, which unfolded just after midnight on Sunday, claimed 25 lives and left the state reeling.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed that an FIR has been registered against the owner and the general manager of Birch by Romeo Lane, the club where the fire erupted. Both individuals are expected to be taken into custody as part of the ongoing probe.
Sawant, who addressed the media and later posted an update on X, said he has been personally reviewing the situation. He noted that the six injured survivors remain stable and are being treated under close supervision. “The magisterial inquiry will help determine how this happened and who is responsible,” he said.
The club, situated about 25 kilometres from Panaji, had been operational for just over a year and had quickly become a popular destination for partygoers. According to preliminary findings shared by Sawant, the fire originated on the first floor. Narrow entryways and crowding reportedly created a bottleneck that prevented many patrons from escaping in time.
Some of those inside attempted to make their way down to the ground level, only to become trapped as flames and smoke rapidly engulfed the structure.
Sawant described the incident as unprecedented for Goa’s nightlife sector and stressed that any negligence—whether on the part of the management or oversight authorities—would be pursued rigorously. Investigators from multiple departments are now examining structural layouts, compliance records, and eyewitness accounts as part of the wider inquiry.
The government has indicated that further regulatory action could follow once the full picture of the tragedy emerges.
