 "A woman walks past the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, which has been sealed for investigation following a fire that killed multiple people, in Goa. Reuters")
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday directed authorities to demolish the Romeo Lane beach shack in Vagator—run by brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra—as the probe into the Arpora nightclub fire that killed 25 people has intensified, PTI reported.
The move comes as authorities broaden their search for the two brothers, who left for Thailand soon after their nightclub-restaurant, Birch by Romeo Lane, was engulfed in flames late Saturday.
Goa Police said the brothers boarded an IndiGo flight from New Delhi to Phuket at 5:30 am on Sunday, just hours after the incident. A lookout notice has since been issued through the Bureau of Immigration, officers added.
“The Bureau of Immigration at Mumbai was contacted and it was found that both the accused had taken 6E 1073 flight (New Delhi to Phuket) at 5.30am on 7th December,” deputy superintendent of police and public relations officer Nilesh Rane said.
Indian agencies are now working with Thai authorities to track the Luthra brothers in Phuket and are pushing for their deportation using an arrest warrant. Police teams that visited the Luthras’ north Delhi home on Monday said the duo was nowhere to be found.
Inside the safety failures behind Arpora nightclub inferno
The majority of the victims in the Goa nighclub fire were staff members trapped in the basement kitchen.
CM Pramod Sawant confirmed that the fire was triggered by electric firecrackers (cold pyro sticks) set off during a performance, which quickly ignited the highly combustible ceiling and décor.
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View AllThe tragedy was exacerbated by severe negligence, as the club operated without proper licenses and violated multiple fire safety norms, including lacking adequate exit points.
Police have arrested four staffers and filed a case of culpable homicide against the Delhi-based owners, who reportedly fled the country. The state government has also suspended three officials for dereliction of duty in clearing the illegal operation.