Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The magisterial inquiry committee probing the deadly fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora has submitted its report to the State government, officially concluding its investigation into one of Goa’s worst recent tragedies.
Sources confirmed that the report squarely attributes the incident to serious shortcomings in regulatory oversight and non-compliance with safety norms.
The fire, which broke out in early December, claimed 25 lives—20 of them staff members working at the nightclub and five tourists. In the aftermath of the tragedy, the State government constituted a magisterial inquiry committee on December 8 under the chairmanship of the North Goa District Collector, directing it to complete the probe within seven days.
The committee carried out a detailed examination and submitted its findings on December 23, 2025. The report has since been forwarded to the Chief Secretary, paving the way for the government to decide on further action.
As part of its mandate, the inquiry examined the origin and cause of the fire, reviewed licences and permissions issued to the establishment, and assessed whether mandatory fire safety and other statutory norms were followed. Statements of officials, staff and other concerned individuals were recorded during the course of the investigation. The panel also mapped the role and accountability of various departments involved in granting approvals and monitoring compliance.
Sources said the report exposes glaring lapses in the manner in which clearances were granted, with responsibility fixed on authorities who issued permissions despite evident deficiencies.
The local panchayat has reportedly been held responsible for a significant portion of the lapses, although other regulatory agencies have also been flagged for failures in oversight.
In addition to identifying accountability, the committee has reportedly made around 60 recommendations aimed at strengthening regulatory mechanisms and preventing a recurrence of such incidents in the future.
