After this horrific accident, the police have now arrested four managers of the club. Initial investigation has revealed that not only was the club overcrowded, but the flammable material used inside the building, narrow entry-exit routes and poor ventilation made the situation more dangerous. People wanted to get out, but the way was so limited that many people got stuck in the basement. Suffocation has been found to be the cause of death in most people.
What is the whole matter?
The accident happened around 12:04 am on Sunday when the nightclub was at its peak crowd. According to the police, the fire spread after a cylinder explosion and engulfed the entire club within a few moments. There were 14 staff members among those who died. While the rest are said to be tourists. The injured were admitted to nearby hospitals and the fire brigade and police remained engaged in relief and rescue operations throughout the night.
Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant have expressed grief over the incident. PMO has announced an assistance amount of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50 thousand to the injured.
The performers used to dance amidst the fire on a high platform and this dance area was also very big.
CM Sawant’s strict action, FIR against the owner
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has taken a strong stand on the Goa night club tragedy. He confirmed that so far 4 people have been arrested in the case and a magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident. The Chief Minister also informed that suspension orders of some concerned officers will be issued today itself. Meanwhile, DGP Alok Kumar confirmed that an FIR has been registered against the club owner. While assuring 100% arrest, Chief Minister Sawant made it clear that every person named in the FIR will be arrested. Even if the name of any government official comes up, strict action will be taken against him also. Club owners Gaurav Luthra and Saurav Luthra are said to be residents of Delhi.
How did negligence become the biggest cause of death?
- According to initial investigation, this accident was not just a fire but was the result of several levels of negligence.
- There was overcrowding in the club, the weekend crowd was much more than expected.
- Flammable material was used inside the club, due to which the fire spread rapidly.
- There were limited exit routes in the building, due to which people could not get out.
- Biggest danger: Many people were trapped in the basement area where ventilation was very poor.
- The fire spread from the upper floors down and the smoke suffocated people.
The investigation team says that if the escape route was wider and the ventilation system was better, the death toll would not have been so horrific.
Why are people trapped? Smoke became the cause of death
The fire department said that the real reason for the spread of the fire was smoke. Most of the people died not from burning but from suffocation. The basement part of the club was completely filled with smoke and it became almost impossible to reach the exit.
Goa Police said that many people ran to get out. But the path was so narrow that a stampede occurred. Those who were in the staff area of the club could not reach outside.
Arrests and political controversy
After the incident, Anjuna police arrested four managers of the club. These managers worked in different departments. Police are now investigating which officers had given permission regarding fire safety certificate, overcrowd permission and emergency exit. On the other hand, Congress has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. The party alleges that the government’s negligence and loose rules are responsible for this accident.
A sudden fire broke out in a night club named ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’, in which at least 25 people lost their lives.
What next? Preparation for safety audit and major action
Goa BJP MLA Michael Lobo has said that fire safety audit will be started in similar clubs and resto-bars. The administration has made it clear that immediate action will be taken against all the clubs without security certification. On the basis of investigation, now many big nightclubs can also be tightened the noose, because the incident has raised a big question on the safety standards related to Goa’s nightlife.
