Shaken Deeply, Owner of Missing Goa Club Breaks Silence After Horrific Fire That Claimed 25 Lives

In the aftermath of a catastrophic fire at Goa’s popular Romeo Lane nightclub that killed 25 people, the state government has launched a stringent crackdown on the establishment’s owners. The tragedy, which has shaken the region and sparked national outrage, has raised questions about the club’s licensing, fire safety compliance, and administrative oversight.

Authorities confirmed that the nightclub’s permits were allegedly secured without the required documentation. Acting on these findings, the Goa Police issued a look-out notice for the club’s missing proprietors, who have yet to surface for questioning.

The crackdown intensified when the fifth accused—a manager responsible for day-to-day operations—was arrested in Delhi on Monday. This follows the detention of four other staff members on Sunday, all linked to the management of the ill-fated club.

One of the club’s co-owners, Saurabh Luthra, expressed grief on social media, acknowledging the magnitude of the tragedy and stating that the entire administration was “deeply shaken by the tragic loss of lives.”

“The unfortunate incident at Birch has resulted in immense sorrow, and the management conveys its heartfelt condolences,” Luthra wrote on Instagram. “We stand in unwavering solidarity with the families of the deceased and those injured during this hour of irreparable loss.”

The horrifying fire tore through the well-known Birch by Romeo Lane beach club in North Goa, claiming the lives of both visitors and staff. Initial reports reveal that many victims died due to suffocation after becoming trapped inside the kitchen and ground-floor areas, highlighting potential emergency-exit failures.

Investigators believe that the blaze was triggered by electric firecrackers used during a dancer’s performance, despite the venue reportedly lacking mandatory fire department clearance. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed that early findings pointed to the club’s non-compliance with key fire safety norms, promising decisive action against those responsible.

The police have arrested five individuals in connection with the incident: Rajiv Modak (Chief General Manager), Vivek Singh (General Manager), Rajiv Singhania (Bar Manager), Riyanshu Thakur (Gate Manager), and Bharat Singh (Operations Manager from Delhi).

As part of the widening probe, authorities have sealed a beach shack and another nightclub operated by the Romeo Lane chain, signaling a zero-tolerance approach to regulatory violations.

A special police team from Goa has reached Delhi to track down Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, both of whom face an FIR and possible arrest once located.

Chief Minister Sawant has directed Chief Secretary V. Candavelou and DGP Alok Kumar to identify and take strict action against government officials who may have allowed the club to operate despite glaring safety breaches. The move seeks to address not only individual negligence but also the systemic failures that enabled the tragedy.