Goa nightclub fire: The fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane in Goa’s Arpora claimed the lives of 25 people and injured several others. The fire at the nightclub started when “electric firecrackers” were set off during a dance performance by a Kazakh national, Kristina, to the Sholay chartbuster. The police have now said that the woman doesn’t have a valid work visa to perform in India.
A senior police officer at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) told news agency PTI that the dancer had applied for a business visa, but it had not yet been approved.
“She had applied for the business visa, but she had yet to get the approval,” the officer was quoted by PTI as saying. He added that in the absence of a valid business visa, she cannot perform professionally in India.
Superintendent of Police (FRRO) Arshi Adil told PTI that they are “still inquiring into whether she had a business visa”.
Goa nightclub fire viral video
Following the incident, a video from the nightclub went viral in which Kristina could be seen performing on stage to Mehbooba Mehbooba as fire rained down inside the nightclub. In an interview with India Today, she recalled the horrifying incident, adding that her crew member warned her to let go of her belongings and leave the nightclub.
“My first instinct was to go to my changing room. But my crew member said, ‘Don’t go there.’ The fire was already at that location. That saved my life,” she told India Today.
Kristina added, “The fire started because of a short circuit during my performance. I was shocked. The music suddenly stopped, and I didn’t understand what was happening.”
She added that people started looking for an exit, and hotel staff and guests helped each other. “I started looking for the exit… I was just crying, my head was shaking.”
“When I hugged my daughter, I was thankful to be alive,” she expressed, before adding. “My team is safe. The musicians are safe.”
Who is Kristina Sheikh?
Kristina Sheikh, the belly dancer in question, is from Kazakhstan. She has over 2.7 lakh followers on Instagram. Her Instagram profile is full of dance videos at several nightclubs, including Romeo Lane. She has a daughter.
Goa nightclub fire: 5 arrested, one detained
The police investigation into the fire at the nightclub is underway, and so far, five people have been arrested, and one person has been detained. Two more owners of the nightclub – Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra – are on the run, and a blue corner notice has been issued against them.
Those arrested are the nightclub’s chief general manager, Rajiv Modak, general manager, Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, gate manager Riyanshu Thakur and employee Bharat Kohli. Police have detained Ajay Gupta after a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him and another owner, Surinder Kumar Khosla.