System wakes up only after lives are lost
A devastating fire at a nightclub in Arpora has claimed the lives of more than 25 innocent people. What should have been an evening of leisure turned into a nightmare due to the sheer negligence of the club owners, the management and the authorities concerned. This incident once again exposes the uncomfortable truth about how systems in our country operate—reactive, not proactive; indifferent until tragedy strikes. Even in regions known for tourism, such as Goa, safety continues to be an afterthought.
In India, rules are written but rarely implemented with sincerity. Fire audits are completed on paper, compliance certificates are issued without physical verification, and illegal alterations are overlooked for years. Only after a tragedy does the machinery suddenly awaken, announcing enquiry committees, “urgent reviews”, and “special investigations”. The pattern is painfully familiar: outrage, blame games, temporary suspensions, and then silence—until another incident repeats the
cycle.
What makes the Arpora tragedy even more concerning is the absence of robust emergency infrastructure. Narrow access roads delayed rescue vehicles, fire exits were reportedly blocked, and staff lacked basic emergency training. These are not isolated failures but symptoms of a deeper malaise—a culture that prioritises profit over people, connections over
compliance.
Equally troubling is the slow pace of justice. Culprits secure bail within days, while victims’ families spend years fighting legal battles that drag on for years, marked by endless courtroom appearances seeking accountability. The long, exhausting legal process often discourages ordinary citizens from pursuing justice at all.
The Arpora fire tragedy must serve as a turning point. India urgently needs a nationwide overhaul of safety norms, mandatory annual fire-safety audits by independent agencies, strict penalties for violations, and fast-track courts for public safety crimes. Most importantly, we need a mindset shift: human life must come before commercial interests. If this tragedy does not awaken us, what
will?
Samir Khan, Mapusa
Severe lapses on Goa club fire tragedy
The recent deaths in the Goa nightclub due to the fire incident is unfortunate. Twenty-five people, including four tourists and 14 staff members, were killed in a fire that gutted Birch, a popular club in Arpora, Goa. The death of innocent people due to tragedy is indeed a profound and immeasurable loss. Tourists have always considered Goa a very safe destination. This has sparked anger, with many accusing authorities of corruption and negligence. Issuing permission without any proper verification, including a fire licence to ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub at Arpora to start its operations in 2023, is also one of the reasons for this tragedy.
The operators and officials who permitted it should be charged with culpable homicide. First of all, rules are poorly framed. If notice was issued for its closure, why was the stay granted? Safety is on toss everywhere because fire and safety audits are only after the incidence. The death of innocent souls is a tragic reminder of the need for safety and security of all. The fire tragedies are frequently the result of a combination of human lapses, negligence, and lack of enforcement of safety standards. Safety has become a luxury in Goa. Citizens have pointed to a history of similar incidents, such as fatal road accidents and other safety issues, suggesting that the deaths of common people are repeatedly ignored by those in power. Pathetic and rotten system in which human life has no value.
K G Vilop, Chorao
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Avoid Arpora-like disasters
A late-night weekend party turned into one of Goa’s worst fire tragedies after a massive blaze tore through the controversially operated Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora on Saturday, killing 25 people, including five tourists, and injuring six others. The high-end nightclub was operating without licences, lacked mandatory safety infrastructure and allegedly staged a hazardous fire show that triggered the blaze.
Well, there are so many such notorious nightclubs (run by outsiders) which are currently seen operating illegally along the coastal belt areas with the full backing of local politicians, top officials of the different government departments like TCP, FDA, Excise, Goa State Pollution Control Board etc and without following basic safety infrastructure.
The government should therefore take a very serious note of the above illegalities, take the officials of the different departments to task for promoting all types of corruption and also dare to demolish all the notorious clubs which are found operating illegally and not following any safety measures if it really wants to avoid Arpora-like disasters from happening in all the coastal belt areas of Goa in future.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Tip of the iceberg
The Arpora nightclub fire exposes the criminal nature of the owner and those responsible for turning a blind eye to the lack of safety precautions and measures.
Whether licences and permissions were in order is anyone’s guess.
Most shocking is the impunity with which these outsiders descend on Goa and run businesses with or without permission and ethics.
We Goans are harassed to obtain licences, what with the red tape of a bureaucracy that wants their palms greased, and it’s best not to comment on the powers that be, at every level, who, for their personal gain, permit such rot in the name of progress and development and a boost for the economy and tourism. At what cost!!!!!
Alan Rodrigues, Carmona
