Goa police continued their investigation on Monday into the tragic fire at Birch by Romeo Lane, a nightclub in Arpora, north Goa, which claimed 25 lives late Saturday night. The probe has seen several developments, ranging from police searches to official crackdowns. Here is a detailed look at six key points from the ongoing investigation:

1. The Tragic Fire:
The fire erupted on the intervening nights of Saturday and Sunday at Birch by Romeo Lane, a popular nightclub in the coastal village of Arpora. The blaze killed 25 people, including both tourists and staff members, leaving authorities racing to determine the cause and accountability.

2. Formation of a Four-Member Magisterial Panel:
The Goa government has constituted a four-member magisterial inquiry committee to probe the incident. According to PTI, the panel includes South Goa Superintendent of Police Tikam Singh Verma, Director of Forensic Sciences Ashutosh Apte, and Deputy Director of Fire and Emergency Services Rajendra Halarnkar. The committee’s task is to investigate the circumstances leading to the fire, assess safety lapses, and identify responsible parties.

3. Club Owners Not Found at Delhi Residence:
As part of the probe, Goa police visited the Delhi residence of the nightclub owners, Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, but found that neither brother was at home. The Luthras are among the main accused in the case. Police questioned their family members to ascertain their whereabouts and coordinate further legal action.

4. Saurabh Luthra Expresses Grief and Offers Aid:
Co-owner Saurabh Luthra posted on social media expressing “profound grief” over the tragedy. He offered support to the families of the victims in “every possible form,” stating that the management was deeply shaken by the loss of lives. The message, shared on Instagram, was aimed at conveying remorse and solidarity with the affected families.

5. Detention of Nightclub Employee:
Goa police detained an employee of the nightclub, identified as Bharat Kohli, a resident of Delhi’s Sabzi Mandi area. His name emerged during questioning of the club manager. Kohli was brought to Goa for further interrogation as part of the ongoing investigation into the incident and potential lapses in safety or operational protocols.

6. Crackdown on Romeo Lane Chain and Last Rites of Victims:
Following the fire, the Goa government intensified scrutiny of Romeo Lane, the chain that owns multiple upscale restaurants and bars across India. Two properties of the company, along with a beach shack and another club in Vagator and Assagao, were reportedly sealed. Meanwhile, the last rites of three migrant workers from Jharkhand—Pramod Mahto (24), Binod Mahto (20), and Mohit Munda (22)—who were among those killed, were performed in their native places. Their bodies were flown back to Jharkhand on Monday morning.

The investigation into the tragic incident is ongoing, with authorities focused on establishing the cause of the fire, identifying lapses in safety protocols, and holding responsible parties accountable. The developments so far underscore the human toll of the disaster, as well as the regulatory and legal challenges facing nightclub operations in Goa.