Only 1 exit, 1 narrow lane: How Goa's '1st island club' built on salt pan became death zone; 25 killed

PANAJI : Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora located approximately 16km from Panaji, was constructed on a salt pan with inadequate safety measures, highlighting significant infrastructure concerns following a Saturday night fire incident that claimed 25 lives. The establishment, marketed as Goa’s first island club, faces legal scrutiny over its safety protocols and building design. The nightclub is positioned in the middle of a salt pan, surrounded by water, with its entrance 50m from the club’s main gate.

While two entry points exist, typically only one narrow lane remains accessible. The club’s basement features a thick concrete structure with a permanently closed exit. It houses the kitchen, changing room, and bar counter without proper ventilation, accessed by two narrow