Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The State government has allowed an additional week for the Magisterial Inquiry Committee, led by the North Goa Collector, to wrap up its investigation into the devastating fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora that left 25 people dead.
The four-member panel, constituted on December 8, was initially instructed to complete the inquiry and submit its report within eight days. As the deadline approached, the committee sought more time, citing the need to verify documents and continue recording statements of officials linked to the case. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant approved the request, granting an extension.
Besides the North Goa Collector, the committee includes Superintendent of Police (South) Tikam Singh Verma, Director of Forensic Sciences Ashutosh Apte, and Deputy Director of Fire and Emergency Services Rajendra Haldankar. The panel has been mandated to reconstruct the sequence of events that culminated in the tragedy and present its conclusions to the government.
Sources said the inquiry is closely examining the legality and authenticity of various licences, permissions and clearances issued to the nightclub by different authorities. Particular attention is being paid to the process of granting no-objection certificates (NOCs) and whether mandatory safety requirements were properly followed.
So far, the committee has questioned the then Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) Member Secretary Shamila Monteiro, who has since been placed under suspension, along with the original landowner, Pradip Ghadi Amonkar. Officials familiar with the proceedings said summons are likely to be issued to former Director of Panchayats Siddhi Halarnkar, Arpora–Nagoa Sarpanch Roshan Redkar, suspended village panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bagkar, and other officials associated with the approvals and clearances.
The panel is expected not only to piece together the circumstances leading to the blaze but also to identify responsibility across departments or agencies wherever lapses are established. It will additionally suggest remedial and preventive measures aimed at avoiding similar incidents in the future.
The fire at the Arpora nightclub claimed the lives of 25 persons — four tourists and 21 staff members — while six others suffered injuries. Preliminary assessments indicate that the blaze was sparked by the use of electrical fireworks inside the premises.
