Officials in Goa have increased their vigilance to take on the Romeo Lane hospitality chain after an uncontrollable fire in one nightclub that claimed 25 lives. It was a tragic incident that occurred late on Saturday evening of Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora which has led to extensive investigations, numerous arrests and the closing of other properties associated with the Romeo Lane brand. Senior officials have confirmed this morning that a police unit is already in Delhi to track down those who promoted the brand as the investigation grows.

The Incident That Triggered Statewide Action

The fire broke out just before midnight on Saturday night in the well-known Birch by Romeo Lane club which is located in Goa’s thriving Arpora belt. The venue is famous for its crowds on weekends and nightlife activities were in operation at the time of the fire, which spread throughout the building. Based on initial reports from the fire and police departments the majority of the victims were members of the staff working at the club at the time.

The authorities registered an FIR against the club’s promoters Saurabh Luthra as well as Gaurav Luthra shortly after the incident was discovered. Both men remain untraceable which has prompted Goa Police to send a team to Delhi to track and capture the two men. Officials have said each promoter is likely to be charged with serious offenses once they are arrested in light of the extent of the losses and the grave safety violations discovered to date.

Arrests and Expanding Investigation

The hunt for promoters is ongoing, police have already detained four key players of the club’s management team. They include:

• Rajiv Modak, Chief General Manager
• Vivek Singh, General Manager
• Rajiv Singhania, Bar Manager
• Riyanshu Thakur, Gate Manager

These arrests are an element of a wider investigation into the possibility of negligence, operational infractions, and the absence of required permits to run a nightclub with a large capacity.

Officials have said that the investigation could extend into additional Romeo Lane establishments operating in Goa. The Luthras chain is home to several properties throughout the state, including some that operate as beach shacks, restaurants or even venues for events.

Two More Romeo Lane Properties Sealed

Responding quickly after the fire, immediately North Goa district administration sealed two other properties connected with Romeo Lane. The first is a beach shack located in Vagator and the second is a restaurant in Assagao. The authorities said that these establishments are already under investigation due to ongoing issues and operational concerns. The incident that caused the fire prompted authorities to take immediate precautionary measures.

A representative of the administration of the district confirmed that the properties were sealed off for security reasons to “prevent further violations and potential safety risks.” Further inspections are scheduled across the district, in particular of venues hosting large gatherings for the public.

Chief Minister Responds: Safety, Accountability, and Oversight

Goa Governor Pramod Sawant spoke to the media on Sunday and stated that the team of police officers has already arrived in Delhi to track down the promoters. The minister assured the public that both of them will be detained, and added that the state plans to examine every single failure that allowed the club to continue to operate despite violating.

One of the most significant issues is the fact that Birch in the direction of Romeo Lane allegedly did not have a No Objection Certificate issued by the department of fire. This has led to questions regarding the way in which the venue was permitted to hold events, accommodate large crowds, or make use of special effects such as fireworks, without a compliance clearance.

Sawant has instructed chief secretary V. Candavelou and Director General of Police Alok Kumar to determine the officials who might have permitted the nightclub to continue operating without approval. He said that strict disciplinary sanctions will be imposed on anyone in the government who is found to be responsible for ignoring safety rules.

What Led to the Fire? Early Findings Suggest Fireworks Indoors

Initial investigations suggest that the fire could have been caused by “electric firecrackers” inside the nightclub. According to initial reports that these fireworks went off, they were set off at around 11:45pm, just prior to when the fire started. The fire department said that the blaze quickly spread within the enclosed areas which left many trapped before they could reach an exit that was safe.

While authorities have avoided divulging details about the incident however, they have stated that a lot of victims could not escape because of smoke accumulation and blocked pathways. It is thought that the fire impacted the kitchen and ground floor space the most, as employees were trapped in the chaos.

Victims: Mostly Staff, Some Tourists

Of the 25 individuals who perished, 20 of them were employed by the nightclub. This included server staff, kitchen staff cleaners, security personnel working during the incident. The other victims were five tourists, four of which originated from Delhi.

The tragic incident has drawn an eye to the conditions of work within these establishments, especially when there are large crowds, where employees typically work in high-risk, enclosed spaces with a limited exit.

Recurring Concerns About Nightclub Safety in Goa

Goa’s nightlife sector has seen substantial growth in the last few years, with a number of new bars, clubs and shacks as well as music venues being opened across tourist-rich areas like Anjuna, Vagator, and Arpora. Although the industry attracts thousands of people, it also has faced constant scrutiny regarding safety standards.

The fire that occurred on Saturday has raised questions regarding whether or not establishments are following the proper safety standards for fire and crowd-capacity regulations and emergency exit regulations and a sound permit. Many in the hospitality industry have pointed out that lapses or loopholes and unreliable approvals have allowed some establishments to continue operating without meeting the essential safety requirements.

The authorities are scheduled to conduct an array of inspections over the coming days, mainly within North Goa, where many clubs with high-traffic nightlife are located.

Families Seek Answers as Goa Mourns

The families of the staff members who suffered fatal injuries in the incident have asked authorities to ensure that promoters are accountable. The majority of the people who worked at the club were youths who had travelled to Goa to work in hospitality. Many of them survived, but still have to recover from injuries and trauma.

Tourism industry stakeholders have also voiced worry that these incidents could harm Goa’s image as a safe place to go to nightlife. Industry leaders have urged stricter compliance and a clear approval process to ensure that future incidents are not repeated.

Looking Ahead: What This Means for Goa’s Hospitality Sector

The tragic incident that occurred at Birch at the hands of Romeo Lane is likely to cause a massive overhaul of the way nightclubs and other event places operate within Goa. Authorities have indicated that surprise inspections, tighter permissions and the immediate closing of venues that are not in compliance could be the norm in the near future.

Although​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ the state is eager to maintain its attractiveness for tourism, safety is emphasized by the officials as being of utmost importance. The sector could, therefore, be compelled to improve the educational programs for their employees, implement measures for the management of the crowd, as well as ban the use of indoor pyrotechnics and other dangerous activities which may result in accidents.

Currently, it is only a concentration on the chase of the promoters, the support of the families of the victims, and the stoppage of the occurrence of the similar mishaps during the rest of the tourist season that is going ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌on.