A catastrophic fire has torn through a popular nightclub in India’s coastal paradise of Goa, resulting in at least 23 fatalities during the peak weekend hours. The tragedy struck shortly after midnight on Saturday at Birch by Romeo Lane, an establishment located in the bustling beachfront area of Baga in North Goa’s Arpora district.
According to preliminary investigations by local authorities, the inferno originated from a gas cylinder explosion within the club’s kitchen facility. Goa’s Director General of Police, Shri Alok Kumar, confirmed that the blaze was primarily contained to the ground floor culinary area but spread rapidly through the venue.
The victims predominantly consisted of club employees who became trapped near the explosion’s epicenter, though officials confirmed several tourists were also among the deceased. Medical reports indicate multiple casualties resulted from severe burn injuries while others succumbed to smoke inhalation and suffocation.
Rescue operations continued through Sunday morning as emergency teams worked to secure the disaster site. Goa’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed profound grief over the incident, declaring: “Today marks a profoundly painful day for all residents of Goa.” He announced the initiation of a formal judicial inquiry to determine responsibility for the tragedy, vowing that “any negligence will be dealt with firmly under the most stringent legal provisions.”
The coastal state of Goa, renowned for its vibrant nightlife and pristine beaches along the Arabian Sea, attracts millions of international and domestic tourists annually. This tragedy represents one of the deadliest nightlife incidents in recent memory for the region, raising serious questions about safety protocols in entertainment establishments catering to the tourism industry.