North Goa Imposes Indefinite Ban on Fireworks in All Enclosed Tourist Venues

In a decisive response to the catastrophic nightclub fire that claimed 25 lives on December 6, the North Goa district administration issued an emergency order on Wednesday evening imposing a complete and indefinite ban on all forms of fireworks and pyrotechnic displays inside any enclosed tourist establishment throughout the district.

Invoking extraordinary powers under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the directive explicitly prohibits the use, storage, ignition, or operation of fireworks, electric sparklers, flame-thrower devices, smoke machines, pyrotechnic special effects, and any equipment capable of producing open flame or dense smoke within operational premises.

The blanket prohibition covers every category of licensed tourism and entertainment venue — nightclubs, rooftop bars, restaurants, five-star hotels, boutique resorts, guesthouses, beach shacks, temporary party structures, banquet halls, and private event spaces — leaving no establishment exempt during the crucial peak tourist season.

Also Read: #JUSTIN: Goa Nightclub Owners Detained in Thailand Five Days After Deadly Arpora Fire

The order was triggered directly by the midnight inferno at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, where preliminary investigations indicate that “electric firecrackers” used during a performance ignited highly flammable decorative material, rapidly engulfing the venue and trapping dozens of revellers with no viable emergency exits.

With immediate effect and until further notice, district authorities have warned of zero tolerance for violations, pledging rigorous surprise inspections and severe penalties, including licence cancellation and sealing of premises, to ensure strict compliance across North Goa’s vibrant nightlife and hospitality sector.

Also Read: Goa Nightclub Tragedy: Detained Co-Owner Ajay Gupta Says He’s “Only a Partner”