Tragic Fire Claims 25 Lives in North Goa, Arrests Made

A devastating fire in North Goa's Arpora took 25 lives, with victims identified as both tourists and staff members. Authorities arrested four individuals in connection with the blaze. The Goa Chief Minister announced compensation for the victims' families. The injured are recovering, and identification efforts are ongoing.

In a tragic turn of events, a massive fire that erupted in the early hours of Sunday at a restaurant-club called 'Birch By Romeo Lane' in North Goa's Arpora claimed the lives of 25 people, including tourists and staff members. Goa Health Secretary Yatindra Maralkar confirmed the fatalities and mentioned that five individuals are recovering from 12 percent burns.

The Goa Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, announced the arrest of four individuals linked to the incident. An ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh will be provided to the families of the deceased, while Rs 50,000 is designated for the injured. Emergency services rushed to the scene to control the situation and transport injured victims to hospitals for immediate care.

The Goa police have commenced a detailed investigation, registering an offence at Anjuna Police Station under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Senior police officers are actively involved in monitoring the proceedings. An eyewitness suggested that the fire might have started due to a spark from a pyro gun that hit the wooden roof.

(With inputs from agencies.)