Danger lurks at wedding venues
An eyewitness in the Arpora fire tragedy has claimed that the fire broke out on the ceiling soon after flower-pot crackers were lit. The fire spread quickly as the nightclub had a thatched roof. It needs to be noted that fireworks, especially lighting of flower-pot crackers, has become fashionable at wedding venues where hundreds of guests gather. It is true that fireworks give photographers dynamic backdrops that elevate wedding images. However, it must be said that fireworks are dangerous explosives that can lead to major fire incidents at a wedding venue. Local and national laws often govern the use of fireworks, and unlicensed use is illegal. Fires caused by pyrotechnics at weddings have resulted in mass casualties, underscoring the extreme danger of improper use. Much of the decoration at wedding venues is made of cloth or thermocol. Thermocol is highly combustible and burns easily, releasing dangerous, toxic, and carcinogenic fumes. There needs to be a ban on use of fireworks in indoor wedding venues. The fireworks could be allowed in the open area outside the wedding hall and managed by professionals.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Greed triumphs over safety
The devastating fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora has shattered Goa’s sense of safety, turning a festive December night into a tragedy that claimed 25 lives. The government attributed the blaze to the indoor pyrotechnics. This incident exposes a deeper crisis in Goa’s tourism industry. It is unacceptable that a popular nightclub could operate without proper construction licences or fire-safety compliance. Profit cannot be allowed to override basic safety standards. December is when Goa welcomes thousands of visitors seeking celebration and relaxation. Instead, this disaster has brought grief to families and damaged the state’s reputation as a safe tourist destination. While condolences have poured in, what Goa truly needs is accountability and concrete action. The Arpora inferno is a stark reminder that entertainment without safety is dangerous and irresponsible.
Everette Assis Telles, Margao
Complicity in tragedy
The Goa nightclub blaze that killed 25 people is a national disgrace. The loss of these 25 lives is the result of lethal mix of corruption, criminal negligence, and collapsed oversight. A deathtrap was allowed to flourish in full public view. Preliminary assessments reveal glaring violations: non-functional smoke detectors, absent sprinklers, flammable acoustic foam, overcrowded enclosures, and a narrow exit that turned panic into paralysis. Any professional fire-safety audit would have flagged these risks instantly. Instead, licences were renewed, inspections allegedly bypassed, and compliance files moved faster than actual checks. This is not incompetence; it is complicity. High-risk establishments must be held to mandatory standards: automatic detection systems, flame-retardant interiors, emergency lighting, clear evacuation routes, and trained staff capable of moving crowds within minutes. None of this existed that night. Goa now owes its grieving families more than condolences. It requires a state-wide fire-safety crackdown, prosecution of owners and officials responsible, suspension for dereliction, and real-time compliance verification.
KV Chandramouli, Mysuru
Anatomy of a disaster
The tragic Arpora nightclub inferno was waiting to happen. Sparks emanating from pyrotechnics inside the club is said to have acted as a trigger. Such clubs are constructed and contain various inflammable materials including alcohol. Why the fireworks were allowed inside the club is in itself a huge question. As in many fire tragedies, the lack of proper and spacious exits appears to be conspicuous by its absence. The lack of automatic sprinkler system and smoke extraction devices has been questioned. Additionally, there were reportedly no fire alarm mechanism and adequately illuminated exit signage boards. Furthermore, the club was obviously functioning ‘overtime’, a dangerous tendency among nightclubs. Ambulances that came to douse the ravaging fire were compelled to stop at a distance of nearly 400 metres due to narrow approach roads, thereby delaying rescue operations.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Needless debate
The Modi government pushed for a parliamentary debate on an issue that had already been resolved long ago—granting Vande Mataram ‘equal status’ with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. Instead of addressing urgent matters of governance and law and order, Parliament was drawn into what appeared to be a politically motivated narrative ahead of the West Bengal elections. The debates in both Houses were marked by personal attacks, with the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister reviving accusations against first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha going so far as to call a ruling member a liar.
John Eric Gomes, Porvorim
