Overview
- The blaze at Birch By Romeo Lane in Arpora killed 25 people and injured at least six, according to state authorities.
- Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said preliminary findings point to electric firecrackers being set off inside the venue, with most deaths attributed to suffocation and major safety violations flagged.
- Police detained four staffers — Chief General Manager Rajiv Modak, General Manager Vivek Singh, Bar Manager Rajiv Singhania and Gate Manager Riyanshu Thakur — and registered FIRs against owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, with an arrest warrant issued for an owner.
- The government suspended three officials linked to the club’s approvals — Siddhi Tushar Harlankar, Dr Shamila Monteiro and Raghuvir Bagkar — set up a special inquiry panel to report within a week, and ordered audits of hotels, bars and clubs.
- Ex-gratia payments were announced: Rs 5 lakh to next of kin and Rs 50,000 to the injured from the Goa government, with the PMO separately sanctioning Rs 2 lakh and Rs 50,000.