Goa Nightclub Fire Tragedy: Latest Updates on Victims and Investigation (December 2025)

The Victims: Lives Cut Short

The blaze, which erupted around midnight, killed 20 staff members and five tourists, with most deaths caused by suffocation in the smoke-filled basement. All 25 victims have been identified, and their bodies have been handed over to families after post-mortems. Key details about the victims:

Tourists: Four from Delhi, including Vinod Kumar, Kamla Joshi, Anita Joshi, and Saroj Joshi—a family from Karawal Nagar who advanced their trip to avoid New Year crowds. The fifth was Ishaq from Karnataka.
Staff: The majority were migrant workers, including three Nepalese nationals and three cooks from Jharkhand. Among them was Satish Rana, 27, from Uttarakhand, who had moved to Goa for work just two months prior, leaving his village in mourning. Another, Mohit, a waiter, was saving to build a house, his mother told BBC.
Stories of Loss: A Jharkhand family lost a young man who joined the club as a housekeeper just two days before. A Delhi woman survived, but her two sisters perished.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia for victims’ families and ₹50,000 for the injured. Goa’s government is providing medical support, with Governor Ashok Gajapathi Raju visiting survivors.

The Investigation: Arrests and Alleged Culprits

The fire, suspected to have been sparked by electric firecrackers or a cylinder blast, exposed glaring safety violations. Here’s where the probe stands:

Arrests: Five individuals are in custody, including chief general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajveer Singhania, gate manager Priyanshu Thakur, and Bharat Kohli, who was apprehended in Delhi. Co-owner Ajay Gupta was detained after hiding in a Delhi hospital, faking a spinal injury.
Fugitive Owners: Brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, primary owners, fled to Phuket, Thailand, hours after the fire, allegedly booking flights while firefighters battled the blaze. Interpol issued a Blue Corner Notice, and a Look Out Circular targets them and co-owner Surinder Kumar Khosla, a British citizen. A Delhi court denied their interim bail plea, with the next hearing set for December 12.
Inquiry Committee: The Goa government formed a four-member panel, led by South Goa SP Tikam Singh Verma, to probe safety lapses and license compliance. The committee visited the site on December 8, focusing on the sequence of events and regulatory failures.
Suspended Officials: Three senior officials, including the former Director of Panchayat Siddhi Tushar Harlankar, were suspended for allowing the club to operate since 2023 despite violations.

Systemic Failures: A Disaster Foretold

The tragedy wasn’t a bolt from the blue—warnings had been ignored for years:

Illegal Construction: The nightclub’s land was illegally converted from agricultural to commercial use, with unauthorized structures flagged by the Land Revenue Department in June 2024. The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority issued a show-cause notice for Coastal Regulation Zone violations, and a demolition notice was appealed by the owners.
Expired License: The club’s trade license expired in March 2024, but it continued operations unchecked, despite the local panchayat’s power to seal it. Advocate Rohit De Sa had warned authorities about illegal structures on November 4, 2025, to no avail.
Safety Violations: The fire department cited absent fire safety infrastructure and hazardous activities like indoor fireworks. The club’s narrow entry/exit points and basement kitchen trapped victims, with 100 people on the dance floor when flames erupted. A viral video showed revellers dancing to “Mehbooba” as flames spread, highlighting the chaos.

Landowner Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar, locked in a 20-year legal battle, accused authorities of negligence. BJP MLA Michael Lobo demanded a safety audit of all Goa clubs, alleging the panchayat issued permits without documentation.

Public Sentiment and Political Response

On X, the tragedy has sparked grief and fury. @prasannavishy called it a “blow to Goa’s reputation,” while @Hemanta1611 noted the suspended officials’ role in enabling the club. @BeingHumane14 mourned the “heartbreaking” loss, tying it to broader safety concerns. Congress leaders demanded a thorough probe, and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte vowed accountability, with part of the Luthras’ other property, Romeo Lane in Vagator, demolished on December 9.

Goa CM Pramod Sawant, facing backlash, promised a regulatory review to prevent future tragedies. “This is a blow to Goa’s image,” he admitted, as families like Satish Rana’s grapple with shattered dreams.

The Road Ahead: Justice and Reform?

As the inquiry digs deeper, questions loom: Will the Luthra brothers face extradition? Can Goa’s nightlife rebound with stricter safety norms? The tragedy has exposed a nexus of negligence, from lax oversight to ignored warnings, costing 25 lives—many young workers chasing better futures.

For now, families like Mohit’s cling to memories, while survivors like Ami Manocha, who witnessed the horror, struggle to heal. Goa, a global tourism gem, faces a reckoning to balance its party vibe with human safety.

What’s your take—can Goa’s nightlife recover, and will justice be served? Share below. If you’re following the probe, stay tuned for updates.

FAQ: Goa Nightclub Fire Tragedy (Birch by Romeo Lane, Arpora)

Updated as of December 11, 2025

1. When and where did the fire happen?

Date & Time: Around midnight, December 6–7, 2025
Location: Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, Survey No. 177/1, Arpora, North Goa

2. How many people died and were injured?

Deaths: 25 confirmed (20 staff 5 tourists)
Injured: 50 (most treated for smoke inhalation and burns)

3. Who were the victims?

Tourists (5): – Four from Delhi: Vinod Kumar, Kamla Joshi, Anita Joshi, Saroj Joshi (family from Karawal Nagar) – One from Karnataka: Ishaq
Staff (20): Mostly migrant workers, including 3 Nepalese nationals and several from Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.

4. What caused the fire?

Preliminary findings point to indoor electric firecrackers and/or a cooking gas cylinder blast in the basement kitchen. The exact sequence is still under investigation.

5. Who has been arrested so far?

Five people are in custody:

Rajiv Modak (Chief General Manager)
Vivek Singh (General Manager)
Rajveer Singhania (Bar Manager)
Priyanshu Thakur (Gate Manager)
Bharat Kohli (arrested in Delhi) Co-owner Ajay Gupta was arrested after initially hiding in a Delhi hospital.

6. Where are the main owners?

Brothers Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra fled to Phuket, Thailand, hours after the fire.

Interpol has issued a Blue Corner Notice
Look Out Circulars are active against them and co-owner Surinder Kumar Khosla (British citizen).

7. What safety violations were found?

Expired trade license (March 2024)
Illegal conversion of agricultural land
CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone) violations
No fire NOC or proper fire safety equipment
Narrow single entry/exit, basement kitchen, indoor fireworks banned in Goa

8. What action has the Goa government taken?

Formed a 4-member inquiry committee headed by South Goa SP Tikam Singh Verma
Suspended three senior officials, including former Director of Panchayat Siddhi Tushar Harlankar
Demolished part of the owners’ other property (Romeo Lane, Vagator)
Promised statewide safety audit of all nightclubs and restaurants

9. What compensation has been announced?

Central Government (PMNRF): ₹2 lakh to next of kin, ₹50,000 to injured
Goa Government: Additional medical and funeral support

10. Have the bodies been released?

Yes, all 25 bodies have undergone post-mortem and have been handed over to families.

11. Will the nightclub be demolished?

The structure has been sealed. Demolition orders are expected after the inquiry, as multiple illegal constructions were identified.

12. Can I help the victims’ families?

Several verified crowdfunding campaigns have been started by families and NGOs for funeral expenses and support of survivors. Always verify before donating.

13. Where can I find official updates?

Goa Police official X handle
Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services, Goa
Press Information Bureau (PIB) Goa
Reputable news outlets: The Hindu, Indian Express, NDTV, Times of India

⚠️ Official Disclaimer – Government of Goa This content is for informational purposes only. The fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub is under active investigation. Facts mentioned here are based on media reports or public sources and have not been verified or endorsed by the Government of Goa. Readers are requested to rely only on official updates from https://goa.gov.in, @GoaPolice, @DFS_Goa, or Press Information Bureau (PIB) Goa. Spreading unverified information may attract legal action under applicable laws.