A late-night blaze at a North Goa establishment kills 25 people, sparking calls for accountability and safety reform
North Goa witnessed one of its darkest days in recent memory when a massive fire engulfed a popular restaurant-cum-club in Arpora early Sunday morning, claiming 25 lives. The tragedy, which unfolded around midnight on December 8, has sent shockwaves through India’s premier tourist destination and raised serious questions about safety oversight and regulatory failures.
The Incident
The devastating fire erupted at “Birch by Romeo Lane,” a restaurant-club located along the Arpora River backwaters in North Goa’s hospitality hub. When the fire was first reported to the police control room at 12:04 am, emergency services responded immediately, but the inferno had already claimed most of its victims.
According to authorities, the blaze spread with terrifying speed through the establishment. Eyewitness accounts suggest that a pyro gun used during the party ignited the wooden roof, causing the fire to engulf the venue within minutes. Trapped by narrow entry and exit points and a basement kitchen with limited escape routes, many victims succumbed to suffocation rather than burns.
The Toll
Of the 25 deceased, four were identified as tourists while 14 were staff members of the establishment. The identities of seven remain under verification as post-mortem examinations continue. Six people sustained injuries, with five remaining hospitalized. The injured are showing positive recovery signs, with health officials noting they sustained approximately 12 percent burns and are expected to be discharged within days.
Rescue and Response
The fire’s location presented additional challenges for rescue operations. The nightclub’s proximity to the Arpora River backwaters and its distance from main roads meant firefighters had to position tankers approximately 1,300 feet away, delaying initial response efforts. Despite these obstacles, emergency teams brought the fire under control within half an hour.
The state’s medical infrastructure mobilized quickly, with all bodies transported to Goa Medical College. Post-mortem examinations were completed on 17 victims, with five bodies released to families for final religious rites.
Investigation and Legal Action
Goa Police have registered charges under sections 105, 125, 125(a), 125(b), and 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with section 3(5) of the same statute. Four individuals, including three general managers and one bar manager, have been arrested and remanded to police custody. Arrest warrants have been issued for the club’s owners.
The arrested individuals are:
- Rajiv Modak, 49, Chief General Manager (New Delhi)
- Priyanshu Thakur, 32, Gate Manager (New Delhi)
- Rajveer Singhania, 32, Bar Manager (Uttar Pradesh)
- Vivek Singh, 27, General Manager (Uttar Pradesh)
Senior police officials from Goa Police are camping at Anjuna Police Station to oversee the comprehensive investigation into the exact cause of the fire.
Government Response and Compensation
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited the site in the early hours and subsequently ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. The government has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh for each deceased person’s family and Rs 50,000 for those injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an additional Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Safety Concerns and Accountability
The tragedy has ignited serious concerns about regulatory compliance and administrative oversight. Reports indicate the establishment may have lacked proper fire safety licenses and operated without adhering to building safety norms. Congress leaders have alleged that the venue operated as an illegal structure with a demolition order pending—a claim that has sparked demands for accountability at the highest levels of government.
Opposition leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, have called for a comprehensive investigation into what they term “a failure of safety and governance.” Rahul Gandhi stated on social media that the incident represents “not just an accident, it is a criminal failure of safety and governance,” demanding a transparent probe to fix accountability.
Congress leaders in Goa have demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and involved ministers, arguing that moral and political responsibility demands accountability for the preventable tragedy.
A State in Mourning
Goa Governor P.S. Ashok Gajapathi Raju expressed profound sorrow over the incident and urged authorities to extend all possible assistance to victims’ families. The tragedy has cast a shadow over Goa’s image as a premier tourist destination, with Chief Minister Sawant describing it as “a serious setback for the state.”
Looking Forward
As investigations continue, the focus remains on understanding how such a tragedy could occur in an establishment operating in one of India’s most developed tourist regions. The incident has reignited debates about enforcement of safety regulations, illegal operations in tourism hotspots, and the need for stronger oversight mechanisms.
The families of the 25 deceased and the survivors now wait for justice and answers. For Goa, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder that prosperity and tourism must not come at the cost of public safety and regulatory compliance.
This article covers the incident as of December 8, 2025. Updates may follow as investigations progress.
