EXCLUSIVE | Goa CM Reveals Shocking Details About Birch Nightclub Tragedy That Killed 25

Arpora: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant spoke exclusively to Republic after the deadly fire at the state's famous Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub claimed the lives of 25 people and left six others injured. The Chief Minister stated that a magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the fire.

Further, he confirmed that pyro shows were being held at the nightclub on Saturday night when the fire erupted. It was earlier reported that a cylinder blast may have triggered the blaze. However, later it was suspected that pyro guns must be behind the cause of the fire.

‘People Tried To Escape From Same Exit’

The Chief Minister also revealed that when the fire broke out in the hall above the nightclub, people tried to escape from the same door. He stated, “Most people came out, but those who went to the ground floor, they died due to suffocation.”

“According to a preliminary enquiry, 25 people have died, six people are still admitted, they are out of danger, their treatment is going on well,” he added.

He reiterated that the government will strictly take actions against the club's owner and the club's manager.

Rules Flouted At Nightclub?

On questions of how the club was allowed to operate if the panchayat had already raised concerns about certain rules not being followed there, Sawant replied that he would comment on this only after an inquiry report into the fire is made.

“As to who gave the trade licence, we will find out later,” he added.

It was earlier reported that a demolition order had been issued for the nightclub but the government stopped the demolition after club administration approached higher officials.

Who Is Responsible?

Congress State President Amit Patkar has blamed the Goa government for the tragedy, calling it a “planned murder”. Flagging the safety norms violated at the nightclub, Patkar said, “We demand that the CM and all the ministers involved in giving permission resign immediately on moral and political grounds.”

Reacting to this, Sawant said he would comment on this only after the inquiry report comes out.

The Goa Police said that among the 25 deceased, four were tourists and 14 were staff members. The identity of the remaining seven bodies recovered is yet to be established, police said. One injured individual has suffered over 60% burns, while the conditions of the others are reported to be stable.

Also Read- Who Is Saurabh Luthra, The Founder Of Goa's Birch Nightclub Where Deadly Fire Killed 25?