Goa Nightclub Tragedy: Delhi Women Loses Four Members of her Family During Long-Awaited Trip

The catastrophic fire tore through the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora's vibrant nightlife hub late Saturday night, claimed 25 lives in a blaze that turned a night of celebration into unimaginable tragedy. The incident, which erupted around midnight on December 6, 2025, engulfed the popular venue—known for its Bollywood DJ nights and beachside allure—leaving behind charred remnants of furniture and a temporary structure lined with highly flammable palm leaves. Preliminary investigations point to indoor fireworks igniting flammable materials, triggering a massive explosion that rapidly spread flames and toxic smoke through the packed dance floor and basement kitchen, where most victims were trapped.

In a heartbreaking twist, four of the five tourists killed hailed from the same Delhi-based family on a long-awaited group vacation to Goa: three sisters—Priya Sharma (32), Neha Sharma (28), and Riya Sharma (25)—along with Priya's husband, Amit Verma (35), all perished in the inferno. The family, residents of Delhi's Rohini neighbourhood, had planned the trip for over a year to celebrate milestones, including Neha's recent job promotion. The sole surviving member, the sisters' mother, Lakshmi Sharma (55), escaped with severe burns and is undergoing treatment in Panaji, where she has been inconsolable, recounting how the group had just settled into the club's lively atmosphere when alarms blared. "They were dancing, full of joy after so long," she told reporters through tears, as bodies were handed over to kin at Goa Medical College mortuary.

Among the dead were 20 staff members, including kitchen workers who bore the brunt of the suffocation and burns, with only three fatalities attributed directly to fire injuries. Six survivors remain in stable condition at local hospitals, treated for smoke inhalation and minor wounds. Eyewitnesses described chaos as over 100 revellers on the first-floor dance floor stampeded toward narrow exits, only to find fire trucks delayed by a 400-meter access road over a small lake. The nightclub, which opened in 2024 amid prior demolition notices for coastal zone violations, highlighted longstanding safety lapses in Goa's booming tourism sector, where millions flock annually for its beaches and party scene.

Also Read: Goa Nightclub Fire: New images Show Fireball Erupting Before Tragedy Strikes

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced ex-gratia payments of ₹5 lakh to each victim's family and ₹50,000 for the injured, vowing "stringent action" against negligence. Police arrested four staff members, including the manager, and issued warrants for owners Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, with an FIR filed for culpable homicide. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered to probe fire safety violations, while the opposition Congress demanded Sawant's resignation, blaming lax regulations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the loss "deeply saddening", and Union Home Minister Amit Shah echoed condolences, as Goa helplines (0832-2236981) field frantic calls from distraught relatives nationwide.

The tragedy has cast a pall over Goa's festive season, prompting temporary closures of nearby venues for safety audits and renewed calls for stricter enforcement of fire norms in tourism hotspots. As investigators sift through debris for evidence of unauthorised fireworks and overcrowding, the incident underscores the perils of unchecked commercialisation in a state that welcomed 5.5 million visitors in the first half of 2025 alone. Families like the Sharmas', whose dream getaway ended in collective grief, serve as stark reminders of the human cost behind the glamour.

Also Read: Owner of Birch by Romeo Lane, Saurabh Luthra, Identified Following Deadly Fire in Goa