The seriousness of the fire that led to the death of 25 people at Birch of Romeo Lane, Arpora, should not be taken lightly. Any leniency will send a wrong message that the accused are not being punished properly. The structure was built illegally on a salt pan and should have been demolished immediately. The Luthra brothers and others responsible should have been sentenced. Suitable compensation should be provided to the victims. At least Rs 10 lakh should be given to the next of kin of each person who died, and Rs 10 lakh to each injured person. Justice delayed is justice denied, and punishment should be imposed without further delay. If the negligence of the owners and those associated with them is not dealt with strictly, it will harm Goa’s image as a safe tourist destination. Such incidents can seriously affect the confidence of tourists who visit the State for peaceful and memorable holidays.
