- By Priyanka Koul
- Sun, 07 Dec 2025 05:40 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A devastating fire at a well-known nightclub in North Goa's Arpora claimed at least 25 lives late Saturday, marking one of the deadliest incidents the coastal state has witnessed in recent years. The blaze broke out around midnight at Birch by Romeo Lane, a popular venue in the bustling Baga area that attracts large crowds due to its proximity to one of Goa's most frequented beaches. The tragedy has sparked political upheaval, with calls for accountability and a shift in leadership.
Alleging that the nightclub lacked mandatory permissions and a No Objection Certificate (NOC), the Congress party on Sunday demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. The party accused the administration of failing to enforce safety regulations, which they say allowed the club to operate for over a year without the required licenses.
Congress's Goa desk in-charge, Manikrao Thakare, and state unit president, Amit Patkar, visited the site on Sunday. Thakare claimed that the club had not obtained permission from the Excise Department to sell liquor and lacked approval from the Fire and Emergency Services Department. Despite this, he pointed out, the venue operated for more than a year, suggesting complicity or negligence by authorities.
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"Chief Minister Sawant must take full responsibility for the incident and step down, as he has failed to ensure the safety of the people and maintain law and order," Thakare stated. He also emphasized that the fact that the club operated without proper permissions highlighted the Home Department’s failure in enforcing regulations.
"The incident raises serious concerns about safety among tourists visiting Goa," Thakare added, highlighting the broader implications for the state's reputation.
Meanwhile, Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi Marlena demanded to know who created the "death trap" that resulted in 25 persons losing their lives.
"Who has created this death trap? Is local MLA involved in it? Is the minister responsible? Is the CM responsible," Atishi, a former chief minister of Delhi, questioned.
Police officials suspect the fire was triggered by a cylinder explosion inside the venue. The explosion reportedly left little time for people, many of whom were staff members, to escape. Firefighters from multiple stations were quickly dispatched to the scene, and they battled the flames well into the early hours of Sunday. Authorities have confirmed that a significant number of those killed were employees working at the club.
Senior officials, including the Director General of Police and teams from North Goa district, arrived shortly after the fire was reported to coordinate rescue and relief operations.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “Today is a very painful day for all of us in Goa. A major fire incident at Arpora has taken the lives of 23 people. I am deeply grieved and offer my heartfelt condolences to all the bereaved families in this hour of unimaginable loss.”
"I visited the incident site and have ordered an inquiry into this incident. The inquiry will examine the exact cause of the fire and whether fire safety norms and building rules were followed. Those found responsible will face most stringent action under the law- any negligence will be dealt with firmly," he added.
The Chief Minister's announcement of a formal inquiry has placed renewed attention on compliance with fire-safety regulations in Goa's hospitality and nightlife sector.