Goa Nightclub Tragedy: Four-Member Inquiry Ordered After 25 Lives Lost in Fire
Goa forms four-member panel to probe nightclub fire that killed 25 people.
The Goa government on Monday announced the formation of a four-member magisterial inquiry committee to investigate the devastating fire at ‘Birch by Romeo Lane,’ a popular nightclub in Arpora village, 25 km from Panaji. The blaze, which occurred late Saturday night, claimed the lives of 25 people, including 20 employees and five tourists.
Officials have indicated that fireworks may have sparked the fire, although the exact cause is still under investigation. The committee has been tasked with examining the sequence of events leading up to the tragedy, verifying compliance with all statutory licences, and identifying lapses that contributed to the disaster.
The inquiry panel is chaired by North Goa District Collector Ankit Yadav and includes South Goa Superintendent of Police Tikam Singh Verma, Director of Forensic Sciences Ashutosh Apte, and Rajendra Halarnkar, Deputy Director of Fire and Emergency Services. The committee has the authority to summon individuals and request records from relevant departments to ensure a thorough investigation.
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Authorities have already arrested four key staff members of the nightclub: chief general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, and gate manager Riyanshu Thakur. The owners of the nightclub, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, are expected to be taken into custody soon.
The committee will also determine accountability of agencies or departments responsible and recommend preventive and corrective measures to avert similar tragedies in the future. Officials stressed that the investigation will focus on both human and systemic failures that may have exacerbated the disaster.
This inquiry comes as Goa grapples with the shock of one of its deadliest nightclub incidents, raising concerns about fire safety compliance and emergency preparedness in entertainment venues across the state.
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