North Goa Bans Fireworks In Nightclubs, Hotels, Tourist Spots After Fire Tragedy - What The Order Says

Days after a fire at a nightclub in North Goa claimed 25 lives, the district administration has issued an order prohibiting the use of fireworks, sparklers, and pyrotechnics inside tourist establishments.

The North Goa district administration issued the order on Wednesday (December 10) evening as a precautionary measure following the tragic fire incident that occurred at the nightclub in Arpora around midnight on December 6.This comes after a preliminary inquiry into the devastating fire at the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub in Arpora suggested that "electric firecrackers" were set off inside the premises, sparking a blaze that claimed 25 lives, officials earlier said."The order has been issued under Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, prohibiting the use, bursting, ignition or operation of fireworks, sparklers, pyrotechnic effects, flame thrower-type devices, smoke generators and similar fire/smoke-producing equipment inside tourist establishments," a senior district administration official said, PTI reported.The prohibition applies to all nightclubs, bars and restaurants, hotels, guesthouses, resorts, beach shacks, temporary structures, event venues, and entertainment establishments across North Goa, as per the order.Also Read: Goa Police Set To Travel To Thailand After Luthra Brothers Detained

Goa nightclub tragedy: Luthra brothers detained

The first images of Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the Goa nightclub where a devastating blaze took place, have now been accessed following their detention in Phuket, Thailand. The brothers, who fled India within hours of the fire, were held by Thai authorities on Wednesday after an Interpol Blue Notice and Look-Out Circular were issued against them. A Goa Police team is expected to fly to Thailand shortly to take custody and bring them back for trial.

According to an eyewitness, the fire started on the dance floor, on which at least 100 people were present. The people, in an attempt to escape, ran downstairs to its kitchen located on the ground floor, where they got trapped along with the staff, Fatima Shaikh, a tourist from Hyderabad, said.Most of the deaths were caused by suffocation, as the victims got trapped on the ground floor and in the kitchen, according to a fire brigade official.(With PTI inputs)