‘How are illegal clubs still running?’ Tourism body questions govt after fatal Arpora fire

Panaji: The tragic fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which resulted in the loss of 25 lives, has ignited outrage within the tourism sector. The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) is questioning the systemic failures that allowed the illegal nightclub to operate.TTAG expressed shock and demanded accountability not only from the club’s management but also from govt officials.“The news that we are hearing is that the premises were running illegally without proper permissions as per the chief minister’s statement. We are appalled and shocked as to how such illegal businesses are running without proper permissions and safety precautions in Goa. This is just one case. More such businesses are operating illegally in Goa,” said TTAG president Jack Sukhija.The incident hurts Goa’s nightlife and tourism sector, prompting the industry body to call for immediate and stringent action against those who allowed the club to flout norms and function in breach of safety regulations.“TTAG would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to the families of all those that lost their lives in this tragedy. Those who are responsible, apart from the venue owner and management, including govt officials in various positions and departments, who have turned a blind eye to such illegalities must be held accountable, and strong action needs to be initiated against all those concerned,” said Sukhija.The devastating fire at the popular North Goa nightclub has triggered widespread condemnation and intensified scrutiny over the regulatory oversight of the state’s thriving nightlife industry. Chief minister Pramod Sawant has already ordered a fire audit of all the nightclubs in Goa.“Sufficient safety precautions must be followed as per the law to ensure such an unfortunate incident does not happen again. Govt needs to ensure that all its officials in their respective departments do their jobs properly with no compromise on safety,” said Sukhija.“Basic expectations like safety, order, and support must be prioritised. When these fail, the entire tourism image takes a hit,” said Gaurav Kerekar. “Visitors shouldn’t suffer because leadership ignores issues.”