25 people died in a massive fire that broke out at ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ night club in Goa on Saturday (December 6, 2025) night. The fire was so horrific that within no time the entire club turned into smoke and flames. Those who died in this accident included 20 employees and 5 tourists. This incident took place in Arpora village of North Goa, which is about 25 kilometers from the capital Panaji.
How did the accident happen?
According to the police and fire department, the fire broke out at around 12 o’clock in the night. In the initial investigation, it is believed that the fire spread rapidly after an explosion. Many people died not from the flames but from suffocation due to smoke. Many victims were trapped in the ground floor and kitchen and could not get out. The nightclub was located in narrow streets, due to which fire brigade vehicles could not reach the spot. Water tankers had to stop about 400 meters away, causing delay in extinguishing the fire.
All 25 dead have been identified
The government said that all the victims have been identified. They include 5 from Uttarakhand, 4 from Nepal, 3 each from Jharkhand and Assam, 2 each from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 1 person from West Bengal, 5 tourists, 4 from Delhi (3 members of the same family), 1 tourist from Karnataka.
Allegation of ignoring fire safety rules
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that preliminary information has revealed that the nightclub did not follow the basic rules of fire safety. This is the reason why the fire spread so fast and people could not come out.
4 people arrested, FIR registered against the owners
Taking action, the police arrested 4 people of the nightclub management team. These include Chief General Manager, General Manager, Bar Manager, Gate Manager. FIR has also been registered against club owners and event organisers.
Three government officials suspended
The government has suspended three senior officials who had allowed the club to operate in 2023 despite flouting safety norms. The government has formed a 3-member committee to investigate the incident. This includes South Goa Collector, Deputy Director of Fire and Emergency Services, Director of Forensic Lab. The committee has been asked to submit the report within a week.
Treatment of injured patients continues
6 people were injured in this accident, out of which 5 are admitted in the hospital. According to doctors, the condition of some is critical. The Goa government has announced financial assistance of ₹5 lakh to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 to the injured. Also, arrangements are being made to send dead bodies of employees from outside states and Nepal to their homes. President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah expressed deep sorrow over this accident and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
Now all nightclubs will have security checks
The Chief Minister said that the government will now conduct a safety audit of all the clubs, restaurants and crowded event venues running in the state, action will be taken against whoever is running without permission or is not following the rules.
Nightclub license was issued without documents- BJP MLA
Goa BJP MLA Michael Lobo has claimed that the license for the nightclub was issued by the Panchayat in 2023 without necessary documents. He told that the club neither had NOC from the Pollution Control Board nor was the fire license issued properly. Lobo said that Goa is a big tourist center, hence there should be no compromise on security standards. He said that even after a similar incident in Mumbai three years ago, he had stressed the need for strict surveillance at such places.