Premium

Killer Goa blaze a man-made tragedy, FIR spells it out: No fire safety equipment, no emergency exit, no licences

Restaurant did not have emergency exit door on ground floor or deck floor to evacuate; restaurant was operating without obtaining permissions and licenses: FIR

2 min readPanajiUpdated: Dec 8, 2025 05:39 AM IST

The technical fire safety incident report of Goa fire says the tragedy reflects a critical failure in fire prevention engineering, regulatory compliance and life safety preparedness. (File Photo)

After 25 people were killed in a fire at a nightclub in Goa, police have booked the club’s owners, partners, manager, event organiser and other managing staff on charges of culpable homicide.

The fire broke out late on Saturday night at a club called Birch by Romeo Lane in North Goa’s Arporam. Of the 25 killed, four were tourists.

The FIR was lodged on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Navneet Goltekar at Anjuna police station. It named the chairman of Romeo Lane, Saurabh Luthra, his brother Gaurav Luthra and unnamed partners, manager, event organisers and other managing staff as the accused.

The FIR said the accused persons, “who are the owners, partners, manager, event organiser and other managing staff of Birch by Romeo Lane, Arpora… without taking proper care and caution, without providing fire safety equipment and other safety gadgets, organised [a] fire show at their restaurant/club which resulted in a serious fire due to which 25 innocent people succumbed to death and also caused injuries to tourist[s] and staff, inspite of having full knowledge that organising such a show may lead to serious fire accidents…”

The FIR said the restaurant “did not have an emergency exit door on the ground floor as well as on the deck floor to evacuate in case of emergency”.

“The said restaurant was found operating without obtaining permissions/licenses from the competent authorities,” it added.

The FIR was lodged under BNS sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 125 (a), 125 (b) and 287 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter) read with section 3 (5) (common intention).

Pavneet Singh Chadha

Pavneet Singh Chadha is the Goa Correspondent of The Indian Express. His reporting focuses intensely on the state of Goa, covering major developments in politics, governance, and significant local events, which establishes his high degree of Expertise and Authority in the region. Expertise Geographic Expertise: As the Goa correspondent, Pavneet provides on-the-ground, comprehensive coverage of Goa's political, social, and cultural landscape, ensuring readers receive timely and localized insights. Key Coverage Focus: His recent work demonstrates deep investigative capabilities and a focus on high-impact stories, including: Investigative Reporting: Extensive coverage of complex events such as major incidents (e.g., the Goa nightclub fire), tracing the legal, political, and safety lapses involved. Government and Law Enforcement: Detailed tracking of police actions, deportations, and legal proceedings related to significant local cases. Policy and Governance: Reporting on the judiciary (e.g., Goa High Court flagging illegal structures) and the actions of government departments. He tweets @pub_neat ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Taboola...