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Goa Night Club: Four club officials have been arrested after a fire broke out at ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ night club in Goa.
Goa Night Club: Four club officials have been arrested after a fire broke out at ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ night club in Goa. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has ordered action against the guilty officials. He said that preliminary investigation revealed that electric firecrackers were burst inside which caused the fire. He said that club owners Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra will be arrested soon. Speaking to reporters hours after the club fire incident, Sawant said he has ordered state Chief Secretary Dr V Kandvelu and Director General of Police Alok Kumar to identify the guilty government officials and take action against them. Sawant held several meetings with top officials of the state administration and home department to review the situation after this tragic accident.
Committee formed to investigate
Sawant said that the DGP has been directed to take strict punitive action against the club’s owners Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra. An FIR has been registered against both of them. He said that both will be arrested soon. The Chief Minister said that the club’s Chief General Manager Rajeev Modak, General Manager Vivek Singh, Bar Manager Rajeev Singhania and Gate Manager Riyanshu Thakur have been arrested by the police. He said that the government has also constituted a committee comprising South Goa Collector, Deputy Director of Fire and Emergency Services and Director of Forensic Laboratory to investigate the incident. The committee will submit its report within a week. The Chief Minister said that the government has taken measures to ensure that such incidents do not happen again. He said that an advisory will be issued to all night clubs and other establishments in the hospitality sector asking them to take adequate safety precautions.
Every club will be audited
Sawant said that the government officials who had given permission to operate the club would be suspended. The Chief Minister said that state officials will also audit clubs operating without permission and places where a large number of people are likely to gather. He said that an ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh will be given to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured from the State Disaster Management Authority fund. CM said that arrangements will be made to take the mortal remains of the deceased to their native places. Sawant said the incident occurred at 11.45 pm on Saturday night and teams of fire and emergency services and police immediately reached the spot. Initially firefighters found only two bodies on the floor, but later 23 more bodies were found in the kitchen.
Also read: 25 killed in fire in Goa night club, PM Modi announces compensation of Rs 2 lakh
