Early morning on Sunday, December 7, 2025, a devastating fire at a well-known nightclub in Goa, India, claimed the lives of 25 people. The victims, comprised of both employees and tourists, were trapped in the basement when the fire spread rapidly through the structure during a busy Saturday night celebration.
The fire began at approximately 11:45 PM on December 6, at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, positioned in Arpora village, North Goa. At the time of the incident, nearly 100 party-goers were inside the club for a dance event dubbed “Bollywood Banger Night”. The venue is located about 10 to 15 miles away from Panaji, the state capital.
The fatalities included 20 staff members and five tourists. The employees hailed from various Indian states and Nepal, underlining the club’s diverse migrant workforce. Among the tourists were four members of the same family from Delhi, identified by relative Bhavna Joshi: Saroj Joshi, Anita Joshi, Kamla Joshi, and Vinod Kumar. Ishaq, a tourist from Karnataka, was the fifth victim. He had left the club but returned to retrieve his phone when the fire started.
The deceased employees included five individuals from Uttarakhand, four from Nepal, three each from Jharkhand and Assam, two each from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, and one from West Bengal. Among them was Rahul Tanti, a resident of Rangirkhari village in Assam’s Silchar district, who was the eldest of seven siblings and had recently become a father for the third time. Another victim was Diganta Patir, who had quit school after 10th grade to support his family.
The fire started on the dance floor, leading to an immediate panic. Some managed to flee the building, but others sought refuge in the basement kitchen, where they were trapped due to inadequate ventilation and limited exits. Most of the victims succumbed to smoke inhalation rather than burn injuries.
Goa’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited the site and later ordered an investigation to identify the fire’s exact origins and evaluate the club’s compliance with fire safety and building standards. Sawant vowed that anyone found responsible would face severe legal repercussions.
A security guard from a nearby restaurant described hearing a “massive explosion.” The police received the first emergency call at 12:04 AM. However, the club’s remote location posed significant challenges for firefighters. The fire trucks were forced to park at a distance due to the narrow access roads, slowing down firefighting efforts.
Constructed on a salt pan without the necessary permits, the club had previously been served with demolition notices. Despite the club’s opening in 2024, it was found to lack the requisite fire safety clearance and had no functioning fire extinguishers or alarms. The club’s decor, composed of highly flammable materials like straw, bamboo, and palm leaves, also contributed to the fire’s rapid spread.
While initial reports suggested a gas cylinder explosion caused the fire, Chief Minister Sawant later confirmed that fireworks used during a performance ignited the blaze, which was further fueled by the wooden furniture and flammable decorations.
The injured were transported to Goa Medical College hospital in Bambolim. By morning, only six remained in serious condition. All 25 bodies were recovered, identified, and handed over to their families.
Following the fire, the club’s owners, Saurabh Luthra, 40, and Gaurav Luthra, 44, fled to Thailand. Nationwide lookout circulars were issued, and five staff members, including the chief general manager, general manager, bar manager, and gate manager, were arrested on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The authorities seized two additional properties owned by the Luthras and shut down other Romeo Lane clubs after discovering fire safety violations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media, stating “The fire in Arpora, Goa, is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest.” Modi announced financial aid of 2 lakh rupees (approximately $2,400) for each victim’s family and 50,000 rupees (about $600) for each injured individual. Chief Minister Sawant pledged an additional 5 lakh rupees (about $6,000) for the families of the deceased and another 50,000 rupees for those injured.
In response to the tragedy, the state government ordered a comprehensive magisterial investigation and mandated fire safety audits for all local nightclubs. Goa, known for its beaches and nightlife, is one of India’s top tourist destinations.
