In the early hours of Sunday, December 7, 2025, a devastating fire at a popular Goa, India nightclub claimed the lives of 25 people, trapping both employees and tourists in the basement as flames engulfed the building during a bustling Saturday night party.
The fire began approximately at 11:45 PM on December 6 at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub situated in Arpora village, North Goa. The club, located approximately 10 to 15 miles from the state capital, Panaji, was hosting a “Bollywood Banger Night” dance event with about 100 people in attendance when the fire broke out.
Among the casualties, 20 were staff members from various Indian states and Nepal, illustrating the diverse migrant workforce of the nightclub. Five tourists also lost their lives, four of whom were from the same family in Delhi, identified by their relative, Bhavna Joshi as Saroj Joshi, Anita Joshi, Kamla Joshi, and Vinod Kumar. The fifth victim, Ishaq from Karnataka, had left the club but reentered to retrieve his phone when the fire broke out, according to reports.
The deceased staff comprised five workers 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 man from a tea tribe family in Assam’s Silchar district, who had just moved to Goa days after the birth of his third child. During the day, he worked as a gardener and took on a night shift at the club to support his family, which included two daughters aged nine and six. Tragically, it was his first night on the job when the fire broke out.
The blaze started on the dance floor, causing some guests to flee while others, amidst the chaos, ran down to the kitchen area where they became trapped with the kitchen staff in a space with no ventilation and limited exits. The majority of victims succumbed to suffocation after inhaling smoke, rather than from burn injuries.
Following a visit to the site, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed a devastating day for the people of Goa via social media. He ordered an investigation into the exact cause of the fire and to determine if the nightclub met fire safety and building regulations. He also declared that anyone found accountable would face stringent legal action.
A security guard at a nearby restaurant told ANI: “We heard a massive explosion.” The first emergency call reached the police at 12:04 AM. However, the nightclub’s location along the Arpora River backwaters, accessible only by narrow roads, severely hampered the efforts of the firefighters. Fire trucks had to park a significant distance away, and firefighters were forced to carry hoses on foot to reach the burning building. The club’s single narrow entrance and exit, which served both incoming and outgoing patrons, further delayed firefighting efforts, as per local officials.
The club, which opened in 2024, was built without proper permits on a salt pan. Despite receiving demolition notices from local authorities, the orders were put on hold after appeals. Officials discovered the nightclub lacked fire safety clearance and had no functioning fire extinguishers or alarms. The structure was decorated with fire-prone materials, including straw, bamboo, and palm leaves lining the ceiling and arches.
Initial suspicions pointed to a gas cylinder explosion as the cause of the fire. However, Chief Minister Sawant later clarified that fireworks used during the performance inside the club ignited the fire, which quickly spread due to the wooden furniture, timber frameworks, and flammable decorations.
The injured were transported to the Goa Medical College hospital in Bambolim. By morning, only six remained in critical condition, all of whom were stable. All 25 bodies were recovered, identified, and released to their families.
Following the fire, the club’s owners, Saurabh Luthra, 40, and Gaurav Luthra, 44, fled India for Thailand. Nationwide airports were issued lookout circulars by the police. Five staff members, including the chief general manager, general manager, bar manager, and gate manager, were arrested and charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The police also sealed two other properties owned by the Luthras and closed other clubs under the Romeo Lane brand after finding fire safety violations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his condolences on social media, writing: “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 payments of 2 lakh rupees (about $2,400) from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for each victim’s family and 50,000 rupees (about $600) for each injured person. Chief Minister Sawant pledged 5 lakh rupees (about $6,000) for each victim’s family and another 50,000 rupees for injured victims.
In response to the tragedy, the state government mandated a comprehensive magisterial investigation and fire safety audits of all nightclubs in the area. Goa, known for its beaches and vibrant nightlife, is one of India’s top tourist destinations.