On Saturday, 25 people died in a sudden fire at the ‘Birch By Romeo Lane’ nightclub in Arpora, North Goa. The investigation revealed that the materials used for decoration inside the club were highly flammable.
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New Delhi: The horrific accident at a Goa nightclub on Saturday has shaken everyone. This incident, occurring just before the peak holiday season, raises many questions about safety. As the investigation progresses, the causes of the accident are becoming clearer. Let's try to understand, step by step, how such a major tragedy occurred.
On Saturday, 25 people died in a sudden fire at the 'Birch By Romeo Lane' nightclub in Arpora, North Goa. The investigation revealed that the materials used for decoration inside the club were highly flammable.
The decorations included straw and palm leaves, which are easily combustible. Furthermore, there was only one entry and exit point, which was extremely narrow. Fire safety regulations were completely disregarded inside the club.
How did such a major accident happen?
In simple terms, the nightclub was designed like a tinderbox. Excessive use of electronic fireworks further exacerbated the situation. The result was a massive fire that claimed the lives of 25 people.
Two days after Saturday night's tragedy, the debris is being cleared. A case of culpable homicide and negligence has been registered against the club owners. Four staff members have been arrested. Action has also been taken against several panchayat officials.
Decorations became the reason for the rapid spread of the fire
'Birch By Romeo Lane' is described as the first island club on its Instagram handle. The pictures show extensive use of bamboo in the decorations, including the roof. Videos show the fire spreading to the roof within minutes, indicating that the use of flammable materials contributed significantly to the scale of the tragedy.
Moreover, there was only a narrow path leading to the island club. This path served as both the entrance and exit to the club. It had some canopy-like arches made of flammable materials.
Firefighters faced difficulties getting inside
The club did not have a wide enough entrance for fire engines to reach it. Firefighters said they had to park their fire engines about 400 meters away from the club. This hampered the rescue mission and likely contributed to the high number of fatalities.
The investigation also revealed that the club did not have fire safety clearance. Surprisingly, no working fire extinguishers or safety alarms were found in the club.
Dancers and musicians fled the stage
On Saturday night, 'Birch by Romeo Lane' was hosting a Bollywood Banger Night. A DJ, dancers, and musicians had been hired for the event. In a viral video, a dancer is seen performing to the song 'Mehbooba Mehbooba' while the crowd cheers her on, when electric firecrackers go off, intensifying the cheers. A short while later, flames are visible on the ceiling.
During this time, two club staff members are seen running towards the console and retrieving a laptop from under the fire. Initially, the crowd doesn't seem panicked, and someone even compliments the dancer, saying, "You've set the place on fire." Surprisingly, no announcement was made to warn people and ask them to calmly evacuate the premises.
As the fire spreads, the musicians abandon their instruments and flee to safety. Then the dancers, staff, and people in the crowd begin to exit.
The basement became a death trap
According to the information available so far, the sudden fire caused a stampede, and the crowd in the club rushed towards the narrow exit. In the ensuing chaos, some tourists ran towards the kitchen in the basement, where about 20 staff members were working. By the time they realized their mistake and tried to turn back, the entire floor was engulfed in flames, blocking their escape route. Meanwhile, toxic smoke had filled the basement and kitchen, turning it into a death trap.
According to reports, most of the victims died not from burns, but from asphyxiation after inhaling the poisonous smoke. The narrow road leading to the club proved a challenge for firefighters, and by the time they reached the basement, it was too late.
