Twenty-five-year-old Priya Devi sits at the corner of her house, stoic, glancing at the wall with her eight-month-old daughter clutched to her body. Besides her sits Guddi Devi in the same state. They are devastated by the sudden death of Sumit Negi (29) in the Goa club blaze.
A major fire broke out at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, Goa, during a late-night party and killed around 25 people, including staff and tourists, with several others injured.
The fire is anticipated to have been caused by a cylinder blast around midnight. Following which, several fire tenders were deployed to the spot, and rescue operations continued until the wee hours of Sunday morning.
Sumit Negi, who was the chef at the club like usual, went for his job only to return charred.
“He had left for work just five months ago. It was an 18,000-rupee job. He went with the dream of supporting his family, with a hope he held close,” Sumit’s cousin Sachin told FoEJ Media.
“He was very friendly, very kind, and cared for everyone. He was the only son, and with his passing, the light and joy of the house have disappeared,” he added.
The family got cognizance of the heart-wrenching news through a phone call made by Sumit’s friend, whose last rituals were performed in Haridwar on Monday. Sumit was the sole breadwinner of the family, consisting of a wife, an eight-month-old daughter, two sisters, and his parents.
FoEJ Media tried reaching out to the wife and parents, but they were too devastated to talk about the loss.
The Incident
A large inferno unfolded around midnight at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora. The fire started from the kitchen area on the ground floor, and rescue and evacuation operations were taken immediately.
“The fire occurred around midnight. It has now been brought under control. The fire was mainly concentrated around the kitchen area on the ground floor. The source and cause of the fire are yet to be ascertained. Teams are engaged in rescue and evacuation. Maximum bodies were retrieved from the kitchen area, suggesting that the victims were employed at the club. Two bodies have been found on the staircase,” Goa DGP Alok Kumar said, and the Indian Express reported.
“The fire mishap in Arpora, Goa, is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to Goa CM Dr. Pramod Sawant Ji about the situation. The State Government is providing all possible assistance to those affected,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
Ahead of the lapses in the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub that made headlines after the massive blaze incident, the co-owner has claimed that he was merely a “sleeping partner” and was oblivious of the lapses, passing the buck on to owners Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra.
According to the police FIR, the club was operating without the required permissions or licences. It further noted that a fire show was held at the venue on Saturday without any fire-safety equipment in place
