The owner of the Goa nightclub where a devastating fire claimed 25 lives has broken his silence, saying he is “deeply shaken” by the tragedy and will extend full cooperation to investigators. Saurabh Luthra, who owns Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, issued a statement on Instagram on Monday, offering condolences to the families of those killed and injured in the blaze.
“The management expresses profound grief and is deeply shaken by the tragic loss of lives resulting from the unfortunate incident at Birch,” he wrote, adding that the establishment would provide “every possible form of assistance, support and cooperation” during the ongoing probe.
Luthra said the nightclub stood “in unwavering solidarity with the families of the deceased as well as those injured” and conveyed “heartfelt condolences with utmost sincerity”.
Saurabh Luthra is the founder of the Romeo Lane hospitality chain, which operates popular upmarket restaurants and bars across Delhi, Noida, Bhubaneswar and international locations. According to the company’s website, he is a “gold medallist engineer turned promising and fastest-growing restaurateur”, known for his “splendid work in the F&B industry”.
The blaze erupted late on Saturday night during a performance at the nightclub, killing 20 staff members and five tourists. A video circulating online captured the moment flames appeared as a belly-dancer performed to live music. A detailed investigation is underway, but early accounts point to the use of cold pyro devices.
Police have arrested four members of the club’s management team, including the chief general manager, general manager, bar manager and gate manager. Authorities are continuing to examine whether safety norms were violated and what triggered the ignition that led to one of Goa’s deadliest nightclub fires in recent years.
