North Goa’s Arpora woke up to tragedy on Sunday after a massive fire tore through a popular restaurant-club, killing 25 people and leaving several others severely injured. The late-night incident took place at “Birch By Romeo Lane,” a crowded nightlife destination, where witnesses described panic and chaos as flames engulfed the wooden interiors within moments.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed that four individuals linked to the establishment have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation. He also said that another nearby club run by the same group has been sealed by authorities to prevent potential safety breaches.
Sawant announced ₹5 lakh each as ex-gratia compensation for the families of those killed, while ₹50,000 will be provided to the injured. Emergency responders transported survivors to multiple hospitals, with police confirming that five victims are still undergoing treatment and one has been discharged.
— Dr. Pramod Sawant (@DrPramodPSawant) December 7, 2025
Police officials stated that the bodies of all 25 deceased have been taken to the Goa Medical College in Bambolim where identification efforts are underway. Post-mortems have been completed on 17 bodies, and five have been released to families so far.
A case has been registered at the Anjuna Police Station under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, with senior officers overseeing the probe. Preliminary accounts suggest the blaze may have sparked from a pyro gun — a popular party prop — that set the club’s wooden roof on fire, according to an eyewitness.
The victims include tourists as well as staff members who were working during peak weekend hours. Rescue teams battled through the night to bring the situation under control as the extensive use of flammable material in the structure reportedly accelerated the spread of fire.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his condolences, approving assistance of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured through the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
