Goa Fire Mystery: Was the fire at Arpora’s Birch Nightclub just an accident or a big revelation of security negligence? Now the death of 25 people and the order for magisterial inquiry – what is hidden behind the terror of the night?
Panaji, Goa. Goa is famous worldwide for its nightlife, beaches and party culture. But late on Saturday night, a bright, music-filled night in Arpora suddenly turned into shouting and chaos. The fire that broke out at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in North Goa took the lives of 25 people within minutes. This accident was so fast and scary that many people did not even get a chance to escape. Fire brigade and police say that the fire broke out after around 1 am and quickly spread throughout the club. This club was opened only last year and there is a huge crowd here every day during the tourist season.
Did the fire start due to the explosion of a gas cylinder in the kitchen? Or is there something else hidden?
Initial inputs from the incident suggest that the fire started from the kitchen area. Here the matter of gas cylinder explosion has come to light. But officials say that they are still investigating whether the fire started due to cylinder burst or some other technical fault, wiring fault or negligence of management could be the reason. Some eyewitnesses reported that the fire spread very quickly and within minutes the club was filled with smoke and fire. Many people are also asking that if safety systems were present in the club, then how did such a big accident happen?
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Did the nightclub not follow safety rules?
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that preliminary investigation revealed that the nightclub had not followed fire safety rules. He clearly said: “We will take action against the club management as well as the officials who allowed the club to function despite not following the rules.” CM’s statement indicates that this accident could not only be due to fire but could also be the result of negligence on a large scale. CM Dr. Pramod Sawant has ordered a magisterial inquiry into this incident.
How did the death toll increase from 23 to 25?
Police initially confirmed 23 deaths, but two more bodies were later found.
Those who died included:
- 4 tourists
- 14 staff members
- 7 who have not been identified yet
- Apart from this, 6 people are injured who are undergoing treatment.
Was the club very crowded at night?
Yes. Because it is tourist season, there was a big crowd in the club. Had the club allowed more people inside than the crowd limit? Were emergency exits open? Were fire alarms and sprinklers working? The answers to these questions will emerge in the investigation.
What did PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah say?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the incident and said that the families of the deceased will receive an assistance of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF and Rs 50,000 will be given to the injured. Talked to Goa CM and got information about the situation. Home Minister Amit Shah described it as “very painful” and said the administration was carrying out continuous relief and rescue operations.