PANAJI
Nearly two weeks after the devastating fire at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora, which claimed 25 lives, officials, including the police, are yet to clearly establish what caused the blaze. Investigators are examining two main possibilities ” fireworks used during a stage performance or an electrical short circuit.
Sources said fireworks activity near the main stage is currently seen as the more likely cause, but differing technical opinions have emerged during the investigation. A forensic report, which is still awaited, is expected to play a key role in fixing responsibility.
Officials said they questioned the performers, including a Kazakh belly dancer and her troupe, who were present on the night of the fire. They told investigators that the fireworks used were “cold” pyro machines, which are meant to produce sparks without heat that can start a fire. “They said four such spark machines were used and showed videos claiming similar devices had been used earlier at the club and other venues without any problem,” an officer said on condition of anonymity.
However, officials warned that such devices often contain zirconium powder, which can be highly flammable if used in unsafe proportions. “If the mixture is not standardised, it can lead to an accident,” a senior official said. He added that investigators are also examining the possibility of a short circuit in electrical systems above the stage, noting that there are differing views at this stage.
CM Pramod Sawant had earlier said a preliminary inquiry suggested that “internal electrical fireworks” came into contact with the thatched bamboo roof and fibre sheets, causing the fire to spread rapidly and engulf the premises within minutes.
Preliminary findings by the fire department pointed to several risk factors, including possible short-circuiting in electrical systems above the stage and the presence of highly combustible interior materials. Officials flagged issues such as overloaded circuits, non-fire-rated cables, old or poor-quality wiring, and the absence of residual current devices (RCDs) and modern circuit breakers.
“Electrical faults remain one of the main causes of fires in commercial hospitality spaces when regular preventive maintenance is not followed,” a recent department note stated.
