A magisterial probe into the tragic fire at 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub earlier this month found the club operated without necessary licences and used fireworks without precautions. As many as 25 people died in the fire earlier this month.
The Goa government on Wednesday released the report submitted by the magisterial inquiry committee constituted to probe the tragedy. According to the report, the nightclub stood in the middle of a salt pan and operated without a valid trade licence.
"The 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub, located in Arpora village in North Goa, continued to run illegally without a valid licence and no action was taken by the local panchayat to seal the property," PTI reported, quoting the report.
The probe committee also found that fireworks were organised at the establishment "without taking proper care and caution". The nightclub lacked adequate fire safety equipment, it said.
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As many as 25 people died in the tragic fire at 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub in North Goa on December 6. According to police, the use of firecrackers led to the fire. The deceased included tourists, and over 20 of them were staff of the nightclub. The staff members reportedly got trapped in the basement and kitchen area of the club, and suffocation led to a high death toll.
The Goa police have arrested the owners of the club, Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, who apparently escaped to Thailand during the early hours of December 7 while firefighters were struggling to douse the fire. The brothers were later deported to India after Interpol issued a Blue Corner Notice against them.
