The female performer, Kristina, is seen at the moment she was alerted to the deadly fire that broke out at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora.
PANAJI
The Kazakhstani performer who was on stage when the deadly fire broke out at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora has said she “thanks the Indian God” for saving her life. She recalled how she narrowly escaped as panic spread through the club.
Speaking to national media, survivor Kristina, whose performance video went viral after the incident, broke down as she described what happened around midnight when the fire began. At least 25 people — mostly staff and four tourists — lost their lives in the blaze.
“I just ran… I saw people helping each other and trying to get out. I don’t know,” she said. She added that she pushed past a woman and a man who seemed to be in shock as thick smoke filled the club.
She said a quick action by a crew member stopped her from going towards the basement-level green room, where the fire is believed to have started. This, she said, likely saved her life.
“Someone pushed me and said, ‘Don’t go down’. I did not realise how fast the fire was spreading. A guy from my team saved me. I thank him, I thank God,” she said.
Kristina said she had been crying since the incident. “I have only cried since yesterday… the Indian God saved my life. I went home and hugged my daughter,” she said, speaking about the emotional moment when she returned home to her child.
The performer said her entire team managed to escape without injuries. When asked if musicians would now check fire safety at venues before performing, she replied, “No, nothing… Just prepare the performance and go.”
Video clips from the club show her dancing on the main stage with her band just moments before the fire broke out. She said she did not know the fire had started in the basement kitchen until after she managed to escape.
“People were in total panic. The fire spread so fast that everyone was shocked. I do not think anyone understood how quickly it was happening,” she said.
Goa Police and forensic teams are continuing their investigation. An FIR has been registered and other legal steps are under way. Families of the victims and survivors continue to speak about the chaos inside the packed nightclub.
