(Image source from: Thedailyguardian.com)
A beach hut owned by the Luthra siblings, who own 'Birch by Romeo Lane', a nightclub in Arpora, Goa, where a fire took the lives of 25 people last week, will be taken down by bulldozers. According to the news agency PTI, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced this on Tuesday afternoon. Bulldozers will demolish 'Romeo Lane' in Vagator, Goa, after 3 pm, according to sources from the Chief Minister's office shared with NDTV, following the sealing of the restaurant, which was reportedly built on land owned by the government. The brothers, Gaurav and Saurabh, flew to Thailand just three hours after the fire incident. They have since been charged with culpable homicide, not involving murder, and conspiracy. However, neither has yet reached out to the police. Some individuals have been able to obtain a picture of Gaurav Luthra taken at an airport in Thailand.
Their getaway was uncovered as the police began their inquiry. Authorities arrived at their home in Delhi only to learn that the brothers had already departed the country; they took an IndiGo flight to Phuket, which the police view as a conscious attempt to avoid facing the law. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister's office has confirmed that the global police organization Interpol has issued a Blue Corner Notice, which means they are asking police forces from member countries for additional details about a suspect’s whereabouts and activities related to a criminal investigation. The Luthra brothers began their hotel business in 2016 with 'Mama's Buoi', a nightclub situated in Delhi's Civil Lines, close to the North Campus of Delhi University, which became quite popular among students. 'Mama's Buoi' achieved great success, and the Luthra brothers subsequently opened 'Dramebaaz', a fast food restaurant, followed by 'Romeo Lane', a series of nightclubs that gained them much attention.
Months later, they launched 'Birch By Romeo Lane' in Goa. The nightclub was advertised on Instagram as the first 'island club'. Pictures from before the fire showcased bamboo as a major element in the décor, including the ceiling, which helped the fire spread quickly. To make matters worse, there was only a small path leading to the club, situated in the center of a small lake; this path served as the only entrance and exit, which made it impossible for fire trucks to reach the fire when it started. Firefighters reported having to park their vehicles about 400 meters away from the club, which complicated the rescue efforts and likely added to the number of casualties. The investigation also revealed that the club lacked fire safety approval, and shockingly, there were no working fire extinguishers or safety alarms found at a venue that regularly hosted over 100 patrons during busy nights.
