Goa Officials Suspended Following Deadly Nightclub Fire Tragedy: 25 Lives Lost

Three senior officials of the Goa government, including the then Director of Panchayat, were suspended on Sunday in connection with the nightclub fire tragedy for their role in allowing the facility to start operations in 2023, a senior officer said.

A devastating fire swept through the nightclub during the early hours of Sunday, resulting in 25 fatalities, comprising five tourists and 20 staff members.

The officials suspended include Siddhi Tushar Harlankar, former Director of Panchayat, Dr Shamila Monteiro, who previously served as Member Secretary of the Goa State Pollution Control Board, and Raghuvir Bagkar, former Secretary of Village Panchayat Arpora-Nagoa.

These officials are being held accountable for granting permission to the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub in Arpora to commence operations in 2023, according to a senior officer.

Police have interrogated Roshan Redkar, the sarpanch of Arpora-Nagoa Panchayat, who had issued a trade licence to the establishment.