North Goa, Arpora: A series of lucky coincidences saved two Delhi tourists from being inside Birch by Romeo Lane, the nightclub in North Goa’s Arpora where a devastating fire claimed the lives of 25 people on the night of Saturday, December 6. The fire, suspected to have been triggered by LPG cylinder explosions, swept through the nightclub in the early hours, killing four tourists, 14 staff members, and seven others, including locals whose details are yet to be confirmed.

Tourists recount narrow escape

One of the tourists, Avanish, told news agency ANI that he and his friends had planned to visit the nightclub that night but were spared by a delayed cab ride. “We got lucky because our cab driver was late, or else we would have been there,” he said.

“When we reached the area, we saw smoke and were initially confused — we thought it was pollution because smoke is common around here. But it didn’t feel normal. Later, we realized there was a massive fire,” Avanish recalled.

Another Delhi tourist, Nikhnesh, also narrowly avoided entering the club minutes before the blaze erupted. He had landed in Goa at 10:30 pm, and by the time he reached his hostel around midnight, he noticed plumes of smoke rising in the distance. “We planned to attend the DJ night at the venue but turned back after learning that a big fire had broken out. The delay in the cab ride meant we never reached the club,” Nikhnesh said.

Witnesses describe chaos and devastation

Locals recounted hearing an explosion while heading home and witnessing ambulances arrive soon after. Many were shocked by the speed and intensity of the fire. Among those who perished were two young men from Jharkhand, both working in the club’s kitchen. Their relative, Narayan Mathur, said: “Those were my nephews, sons of my elder brother… both of them died. A neighbour also died in the fire. All of us belonged to Jharkhand.”

Chief Minister flags illegalities

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who visited the site following the tragedy, noted that the nightclub had been operating without several mandatory permissions. Preliminary findings suggested that the fire started on the ground floor, leaving patrons in the basement trapped and unable to escape, resulting in deaths primarily by suffocation.

Calling it a “very painful day for all of us in Goa,” the CM expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. Initially, the death toll was reported as 23 but later confirmed to be 25.

Authorities have also highlighted that Birch by Romeo Lane had previously been issued demolition notices by the village panchayat and the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, as the club was built on reclaimed saltpan land. However, the Directorate of Panchayats temporarily stayed the demolition order after an appeal.

The incident has raised serious concerns about fire safety, unauthorized construction, and regulatory oversight in entertainment venues across Goa. Investigators continue to examine the exact cause of the fire and the role of flammable materials and LPG cylinders in the rapid spread of the blaze.