Goa Nightclub Inferno: Firecrackers Trigger Blaze, 25 Dead as Guests Trapped in Basement Without Exits
A weekend celebration at a popular Goa nightclub turned into a horrifying tragedy late Saturday night, as a massive fire tore through Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, killing 25 people — including four tourists — and injuring at least six.
According to eyewitnesses, the blaze ignited when firecrackers were set off during a belly-dance performance around 11:30 PM.
Sparks reportedly struck flammable décor—bamboo, fibre and synthetic grass—along the stage ceiling, sparking a fast-spreading fire that engulfed the structure within minutes.
There were over 200 people inside… everything went dark, and people started running blindly,” recounted a young tourist from Karnataka, who had arrived in Goa with friends for a short holiday.
“There was so much smoke… we feared a stampede.”
Three members of the group managed to escape, but one woman suffered breathing complications and burn injuries and had to be rushed first to Mapusa District Hospital and then to Goa Medical College (GMC) for treatment.
Officials said she, along with five others, remains hospitalised but stable.
Victims Trapped Below, No Ventilation, No Escape
Initial investigations indicate most deaths occurred due to suffocation. Many victims — primarily kitchen staff — were found inside the basement, which had no ventilation or emergency exit route, making escape impossible once the fire spread downward from the upper level.
The club layout worsened the chaos:
- The fire started on the first floor
- The basement housed the kitchen
- Two staircases led directly into the fire zone
- First-floor exits opened onto narrow bridges
- Surrounding areas comprised low-lying marsh (khazan) lands
With darkness, smoke, panic and bottlenecks at exits, many people became trapped inside the toxic fumes.
Some patrons rushed to the basement seeking safety — only to be fatally cornered there.
Earlier reports of a cylinder blast were dismissed by police, who confirmed injuries were not consistent with an explosion.
Government Response and Accountability
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited the scene Sunday morning and confirmed that 14 of the 25 deceased were staff members, most of them working inside the basement. Only three fatalities were due to burns — the rest due to asphyxiation.
Sawant acknowledged that the nightclub had been functioning without proper fire safety clearances: Strict action will be taken against the club management and officials who allowed such violations.”
He has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the disaster, with the promise of severe consequences.
A Night of Celebration Becomes a Nightmare
What was meant to be a lively tourist evening — music, dance and entertainment — quickly transformed into chaos, screams, and desperate attempts to escape.
The identity of seven victims is still being determined. Grief-stricken families and anxious relatives continue to gather outside hospitals and the club premises, waiting for answers and wanting accountability.
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