Overview
- Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said a preliminary probe points to electric fireworks set off inside Arpora’s Birch by Romeo Lane as the likely trigger, with forensic and administrative inquiries continuing.
- Police arrested four senior managers and filed FIRs against owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, as authorities said the owners are being sought following the issuance of arrest warrants.
- The state suspended three officials who cleared the club’s operations, formed a special committee to report within a week, and ordered all hotels, bars and clubs to update fire certificates and submit safety audits in seven days.
- Officials confirmed 25 deaths, largely from asphyxiation, identifying victims as 20 staff members and five tourists; bodies are being returned to families, compensation of Rs 5 lakh for next of kin and Rs 50,000 for the injured has been announced.
- In a Lok Sabha discussion on the song’s 150th year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh defended its legacy and criticized past Congress decisions, while opposition leaders including Akhilesh Yadav accused the ruling party of politicisation, a debate analysts link to BJP’s West Bengal strategy.