A tragic fire at the popular nightclub Birch By Romeo Lane in North Goa’s Arpora on Saturday night has claimed 25 lives and injured six others. The fire broke out during a “Bollywood Banger Night,” where about 100 tourists were enjoying the event.

Most of the victims were staff members, many of them migrant workers, while four were tourists. The fire, which broke out late Saturday night, revealed major safety lapses and regulatory failures, with reports confirming that most victims died of suffocation. Authorities have so far arrested four people, and an FIR has been filed as the investigation continues.

Goa night club fire: 10 developments

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Goa nightclub fire: Fire spread rapidly due to wooden interiors

One of the major reasons behind the rapid spread of the fire was that the nightclub’s furniture and interiors were mostly wooden and highly flammable. There was no explosion, but many people got trapped inside. The fact that the club had only two exits made the situation even worse.

“There was no blast. The club furniture mostly consisted of wood and other inflammable material, which quickly caught fire. There were only two exits through which most people managed to escape. Those who could not escape… went towards the underground (basement) kitchen area to protect themselves from the flames, and suffocated,” Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said during a press conference on Sunday, according to The Indian Express.

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Goa nightclub fire: Victims died of suffocation

Investigators confirmed that most of the deaths happened in the underground kitchen, where people had gone to escape the flames. Of the 25 bodies recovered, 23 showed no burn injuries, indicating they suffocated from lack of oxygen. Only two bodies were badly charred. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed that 23 victims suffocated while two bodies were charred. He said, “I personally saw the bodies being removed, and they did not show any signs of burn injuries.”

So far, post-mortem examinations of 17 bodies have been completed, and six bodies have been handed over to families for final rites. Authorities are compiling the remaining lists for identification and handover procedures.

Goa nightclub fire: Arrests made and FIR filed

Four people have been arrested so far, including gate manager Priyanshu Thakur, chief general manager Rajiv Modak (49), bar manager Rajveer Singhania (32), and general manager Vivek Singh (27).

The FIR names club owners Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra and other partners. Arrest warrants have been issued for the owners, and official teams have been dispatched to Delhi to track them down.

Goa nightclub fire:  Basement design made escape impossible

The basement, which held the kitchen, had just two staircases leading up to the first floor. It had no exit doors and poor ventilation, so employees already working there, along with some guests who ran down to take shelter, got trapped in the thick smoke and suffocated. The FIR said the restaurant “did not have an emergency exit door on the ground floor as well as on the deck floor to evacuate in case of emergency”.

Goa nightclub fire: Officials who granted licences under scrutiny

Authorities confirmed that officers who granted trade licences and permissions for the club will face suspension and inquiry. CM Pramod Sawant said disciplinary action would begin immediately, holding officials accountable for negligence. Sawant announced a magisterial inquiry, stating the report would be submitted within a week. He added, “We have given strict instructions to the DGP that all culprits… those who gave permissions, those who organised it, club owners… will be booked.”

Goa nightclub fire: Man-made causes

The FIR explicitly charged owners, managers, and organisers with culpable homicide, adding that the fire was man-made and preventable. The report, cited by the Indian Express, said, “The owners organised a fire show despite knowing it could lead to serious accidents. The club had no emergency exits, lacked fire safety equipment, and operated without proper licences.”

Goa nightclub fire: Red flags ignored

The club operated without a construction licence, confirmed by the local sarpanch, Roshan Redkar. Earlier disputes between the owner, landowners, and business partners had led to a demolition notice, which was later stayed on appeal. The Fire Department also confirmed there was no No Objection Certificate (NoC) for operating the nightclub.

Goa nightclub fire: Eyewitness account

Eyewitnesses told The Indian Express that fireworks started during the dance performance, moments before the fire broke out. According to the Indian Express, the first-floor exit opened onto a narrow bridge surrounded by khazans, low-lying agricultural fields near the Baga River, making it even harder for people to escape.

Goa nightclub fire: Fire broke out during a dance performance

A video from the club shows a dancer performing belly dance to the classic song Mehbooba o Mehbooba from Sholay. She was surrounded by musicians as the crowd cheered. Suddenly, flames appeared on the console behind her. Staff members rushed to remove a laptop from the fire, but the blaze was strong enough to spread within a matter of seconds. Flames quickly spread through the ceiling, engulfing the nightclub. 

Goa nightclub fire: Victims’ identities and migrants

The deceased staff came from Jharkhand, Assam, Uttarakhand, Nepal, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Karnataka. Four tourists from Delhi were also among the dead, including members of a single family. Most of the employees were migrant workers, earning modest salaries while supporting families back home.