In the early hours of Sunday, tragedy struck at a popular nightlife venue in Goa: a fire engulfed Birch by Romeo Lane, a restaurant-cum-nightclub in the village of Arpora, claiming the lives of at least 25 people and injuring several others.
According to initial reports from state police and fire officials, as reported by Al Jazeera, the blaze erupted just after midnight, when a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder exploded in or near the club’s kitchen, igniting flames that rapidly spread through the building.
However, some eyewitnesses, tourists who had been on the dance floor, offered a different version, claiming that sparks from firecrackers used during a belly-dance performance touched flammable décor materials, triggering the inferno.
Most clear video of the Goa Fire Incident
Within 40 seconds the fire spread into wild fire
Now we will find all the loopholes, illegal permissions & corruption
After we lost precious lives
Terrible pic.twitter.com/LKlXNB4rHh
— Flt Lt Anoop Verma (Retd.) ?? (@FltLtAnoopVerma) December 7, 2025
According to India Today, the club was crowded: witnesses said there were around 100 people on the dance floor.
As panic spread, many patrons fled some headed straight toward the basement and kitchen area, likely unaware that the layout offered no proper emergency exits.
Tragically, many of those who died were trapped in that basement or lower-level area.
Police have reported that among the dead were 14 club staff and four confirmed tourists; the remaining victims are yet to be identified.
Three of those killed suffered burn injuries, while the majority appear to have died from suffocation after inhaling dense smoke.
At least six other people were injured and taken to hospital for treatment, some in serious condition.
In the aftermath, the state’s Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, ordered an inquiry into the incident, promising “stringent action” against those responsible.
Today is a very painful day for all of us in Goa. A major fire incident at Arpora has taken the lives of 23 people.
I am deeply grieved and offer my heartfelt condolences to all the bereaved families in this hour of unimaginable loss.
I visited the incident site and have…
— Dr. Pramod Sawant (@DrPramodPSawant) December 6, 2025
“I have ordered a magisterial inquiry into the entire incident to identify the cause and fix responsibility,” Sawant said. Any negligence will be “dealt with firmly”, he added.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had spoken to Sawant and offered condolences to the bereaved families.
“The fire mishap in Arpora, Goa, is deeply saddening,” the prime minister said on X. “My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured
recover at the earliest,” he added.
The fire mishap 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. Spoke to Goa CM Dr. Pramod Sawant Ji about the situation. The State Government is providing all possible assistance to those…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 7, 2025