I shaq Hussein Khaku, a 25-year-old from Bengaluru, was excited to spend the party season in Goa with his friends. According to his father, Mohammed Hussain, the group decided to go on December 6 for ‘Bollywood night’ at Birch by Romeo Lane , a restaurant, cocktail bar, and club that had opened last year in the village of Arpora. Located near Baga, one of the most popular beaches of North Goa, it promised “coastal luxury”, “a wild crowd”, “the hottest beats in town”, and “island-style cocktails”, on their Instagram account.

Editorial | Wanton negligence: On the Goa blaze

Birch put out advertisements that Kristina Sheikh, a dancer from Kazakhstan, would perform that night. When Sheikh began grooving to ‘Mehbooba, Mehbooba’ from the Hindi blockbuster film, Sholay , sparks began to f

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