Team Goemkarponn
PORVORIM: The Goa government has sanctioned a total of Rs 85 lakh in relief to the families of those who lost their lives in the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire, according to submissions made before the Bombay High Court at Goa. The affidavit, filed in Suo Motu Public Interest Litigation, detailed the compensation disbursed to the victims’ families and those injured in the December 6, 2025, blaze in Arpora.
The North Goa Collector’s office, functioning under the District Disaster Management Authority, approved Rs 85 lakh as ex gratia relief for the legal heirs of 17 deceased victims. Each family received Rs 5 lakh—Rs 4 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund and Rs 1 lakh from the Goa Disaster Management Fund Scheme. Subsequent tranches were also sanctioned for other deceased victims.
For the families of five Nepalese nationals who died in the fire, an additional Rs 35 lakh was provided, with each family receiving Rs 7 lakh. Ultimately, families of all deceased victims were compensated Rs 7 lakh each, comprising Rs 5 lakh from the State and Rs 2 lakh from the Centre. Non-Indian victims’ families received a consolidated Rs 7 lakh per family.
Injured survivors were also compensated, with both State and Central governments contributing Rs 50,000 each. Court records indicate that payments were made directly to the bank accounts of both seriously and moderately injured individuals.
During the previous hearing on February 16, the High Court emphasized that the State could not evade responsibility for compensating the victims, including the 21 workers who died in the incident, noting that liability rested with both the government and the nightclub owners.
In addition, the government has proposed adding new respondents connected to the case, including Vijaylakshmi Khosla, wife of absconding accused Surinder Kumar Khosla; Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar and Sunil Divker, who claim to have constructed structures at the fire site; and Raghuvir Dattaram Bagkar, former secretary of the Arpora-Nagoa Village Panchayat.
