Goa nightclub fire tragedy: Birch by Romeo Lane’s GM, 3 staffers arrested; CM announces Rs 5 lakh aid

Hours after a massive fire at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in north Goa’s Arpora killed 25 people and injured six others, the police on Sunday arrested the nightclub’s general manager and three other staffers in connection with the blaze.

The development comes shortly after the police registered an FIR against the nightclub’s owners -Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra — along with the manager and the event organisers. The owners are yet to be arrested.

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Earlier in the day, Arpora-Naoa panchayat sarpanch was also detained for issuing a trade license for the nightclub’s premises in 2013.

Addressing a press conference, Goa CM Pramod Sawant vowed strict action against the culprit. The chief minister also announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

“The ex gratia amount of Rs 5 lakhs will be provided to the next of kin of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 for the injured will be sanctioned through the SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) fund. The government shall provide complete assistance for the transportation of the deceased to their homes. A dedicated team comprising the SDM, Police, and Health Authorities has been constituted for the same. I also directed the Chief Secretary and the DGP to take disciplinary actions,” Sawant said.

Sawant had earlier ordered a magisterial inquiry into the nightclub fire incident and constituted a committee comprising the District Magistrate and other officials from the police and the fire department. The committee has been directed to look into the procedural lapse that led to the incident and submit its report within a week.

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“I have convened an urgent and high-level meeting today with my concerned officers including Chief Secretary, DGP, IGP, Secretary, Revenue Collector, North SP, I have discussed regarding the cause of the incident and after having the detailed discussions I have taken the decision to conduct the Magisterial Inquiry through the committee comprising of the District Magistrate, SP South, Deputy Director of Fire and Emergency Services, Director Forensics regarding the procedural lapses that resulted in the mischief and to submit the report to the government within a week. DGP has directed to take the strict punitive actions against the culprit, including the owner, manager of the club, and those who have issued the permissions,” Sawant said.

“The committee shall be constituted under the chairmanship of the Secretary of Revenue for conducting the audit of such clubs, business establishments, etc., which are operating without valid permissions and wherein there is a likelihood of gathering of people in large numbers,” he added.