A fire at the Birch By Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa, India, on Sunday resulted in 25 fatalities and left five individuals hospitalized. The club's owners, brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, departed India for Thailand hours after the incident and have since been apprehended in Phuket. Indian authorities are now working for their repatriation to India as investigations continue into the cause of the blaze.
Incident Details
The fire occurred on Sunday at the Birch By Romeo Lane nightclub, located in a prominent nightlife and tourist district of Goa. The incident claimed the lives of 25 individuals, with the majority identified as staff members and four as tourists from Delhi. Five additional individuals required hospitalization due to injuries sustained in the fire. Investigators suspect the fire originated from fireworks discharged inside the venue.
Owners' Departure and Initial Police Response
Hours after the fire, club owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra departed India, with authorities confirming their flight to Phuket, Thailand. Goa police initiated an investigation, traveling to Delhi to conduct a raid on the brothers' residence, where it was discovered they had already left the country. Law enforcement subsequently requested assistance from Interpol to locate them.
Following the fire, Saurabh Luthra, identified on social media as the chairman of the company operating the club, published an online statement. The statement expressed "profound grief," conveyed "heartfelt condolences" to the affected families, and pledged "assistance, support and cooperation." The statement did not disclose his location at the time. Gaurav Luthra did not release any public comments. In the immediate aftermath of the fire, at least four individuals, including the nightclub's manager, were arrested in connection with the incident.
International Apprehension and Legal Developments
Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra were subsequently apprehended in Phuket, Thailand. Nagesh Singh, India's ambassador to Thailand, confirmed their detention to the BBC, stating that the individuals would be repatriated to India.
Prior to their detention, a court in Delhi had denied the Luthra brothers protection from arrest. Concurrently, the Goa government had initiated contact with India's external affairs ministry regarding the revocation of their passports. While the brothers have not issued public statements since their detention, their legal counsel informed the court that they perceived their clients as targets of a "witch hunt."