PANAJI: The Birch by Romeo Lane had been dancing with danger for long.The inferno was the result of a critical failure in “fire prevention engineering, regulatory compliance, and life safety preparedness” by club owners. The nightclub also lacked a construction licence. “According to records, the establishment did not obtain a valid NOC from the fire department, indicating non-compliance with mandatory fire safety regulations,” fire department director Nitin Raiker said. The list of violations included the absence of functional fire alarm systems, non-installation of automatic sprinkler systems, lack of smoke extraction and basement ventilation systems, inadequate number and width of emergency exits, absence of illuminated exit signage, lack of emergency lighting, lack of fire compartmentalisation or fire-rated doors, and lack of evacuation plans. Obstructed exits trapped victims: OfficialThe fire department noted that the absence of “fundamental fire safety infrastructure” and unauthorised hazardous external activities significantly contributed to the severity of the blaze and the tragic loss of lives.“Prima facie observations also indicate that firework activities were being undertaken on the external frontage of the premises at the relevant time. This activity significantly increased ignition risk. Fireworks near commercial establishments, without proper isolation distances and permits, present a severe and unacceptable fire risk,” fire department director Nitin Raiker said.While the emergency response was timely, the narrow access routes complicated firefighting efforts, Raiker said. “It was further observed that the basement had inadequate ventilation and obstructed means of egress, which contributed to the entrapment of the victims,” he added.The department called for immediate enforcement of compliance measures, strict regulation of high-risk activities, and implementation of modern fire engineering solutions to prevent the recurrence of such accidents.“In one word, there were zero fire safety measures,” a fire department official said.
