A devastating fire triggered by a cylinder blast tore through Birch by Romeo Lane in Baga,a popular tourist spot in Goa, just after midnight, killing 23 people—mostly staff working in the basement.
BY PC Bureau
December 7, 2025: What began as an ordinary Saturday night of music, lights, and holiday-season crowds at Birch by Romeo Lane in Baga turned into one of the deadliest nightclub tragedies Goa has witnessed in decades. Shortly after midnight, a powerful cylinder blast ripped through the club’s kitchen, triggering a massive fire that claimed 23 lives and left dozens injured.
The club—popular among tourists and locals—was operating near-capacity when flames erupted. Within minutes, a wall of fire surged through the two-level establishment, engulfing the wooden interiors and trapping staff and guests inside.
“We Saw Fire Everywhere Within Seconds”
Videos shared online show the blaze consuming almost every corner of the club. Screams can be heard as people push against a single congested exit, while thick black smoke pours out from the basement area.
Police control room logs show the first distress call came at 12:04 am.
“The police, fire brigades, and ambulances were rushed immediately. The fire is now under control, and all bodies have been recovered,” Goa DGP Jaspal Singh said.
🚨 Tragic Goa Nightclub Blaze: 23 Lives Lost in Gas Blast Inferno 🔥💔
– Fire ripped through Birch by Romeo Lane club in Arpora, North Goa, around 1 AM – sparked by a gas cylinder explosion near the kitchen. 😢
– 23 dead (4 tourists, 19 staff), 50 hurt; club sealed as probe… pic.twitter.com/bQ8RMHXYLK— Voice Of Bharat 🇮🇳🌍 (@Kunal_Mechrules) December 7, 2025
Despite the rapid response, many could not escape the suffocating smoke. A majority of the victims were kitchen staff working in the basement—three of them women. Officials said 3–4 tourists were also among the dead.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who reached the site around 2 am, stood amid the charred remains of the once-bustling club, calling the tragedy “unacceptable and shocking”.
Preliminary reports suggest that Birch by Romeo Lane had not complied with essential fire-safety norms. The kitchen reportedly stored multiple gas cylinders together in a cramped space without adequate ventilation.
“We will take strict action—both against the club management and the officials who failed in their duty. Such a disaster should never have been allowed to happen,”
Sawant said.
The club’s fire exits were also allegedly blocked, and the basement had no smoke exhaust system—factors that contributed to the high number of suffocation deaths.
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Nation Mourns: PM Modi, President Murmu Express Grief
President Droupadi Murmu called the incident “deeply painful” and offered prayers for the bereaved families.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief on X, adding that he had spoken directly to the Goa CM. He announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the PMNRF for each deceased victim’s family, and ₹50,000 for the injured.
“My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones,”
the Prime Minister wrote.
‘Goa’s Image Is at Stake’: Local Leaders Call for Island-Wide Audit
BJP MLA Michael Lobo, who also visited the scene, said many victims were wage workers who had run toward the basement corridor while trying to escape.
“They died of suffocation—it is heartbreaking. Tourists have always trusted Goa as a safe destination. We need a full, urgent safety audit of all nightclubs and restaurants,”
Lobo said.
He warned that if such violations continued unchecked, Goa’s image as India’s most visited coastal state could suffer irreparably.
A Night of Celebration Turns into a Night of Loss
By sunrise, firefighters were still cooling down the smoldering debris. Charred furniture, melted speakers, and burnt LED panels lay scattered across the dance floor. Outside, a long line of ambulances waited as families—some local, some visiting from out of state—arrived to identify the victims.
Authorities have sealed the premises and launched an FIR against the club owners. Forensic teams are expected to examine whether multiple cylinders were illegally stored or whether there was a leakage prior to the explosion.
For now, Baga—a hub of nightlife—wakes up to grief, silence, and the weight of 23 extinguished live.
