Dehradun: The devastating fire at Goa’s ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub has claimed 25 lives, including five young men from Uttarakhand. All were employees of the club, and their sudden deaths have plunged their families and villages into grief.

The victims from Uttarakhand were identified as Jitendra Singh, Sumit Negi, Manish Singh, Satish Singh, and Surendra Singh. Manish hailed from Champawat, while Jitendra and Satish were from Tehri Garhwal. Surendra was from Pithoragarh, and Sumit from Garhwal.

Satish Rana: The lone breadwinner

Among the deceased was 24-year-old Satish Rana from Tehri Garhwal, remembered as the sole breadwinner of his family. Satish carried the financial responsibility of his parents and younger brother, who is still studying. His two sisters are married, but his parents depended heavily on his earnings from Goa.

Relatives described Satish as responsible and devoted, a young man who worked tirelessly to support his family. His sudden death has left the household shattered. Villagers said his body was expected to arrive by Monday evening, with the entire community preparing to mourn together.

Tehri MLA Kishore Upadhyay contacted the Chief Minister and assured the family of government assistance. “The administration is in continuous touch with the relatives and will provide the required help,” he said. Villagers have demanded financial and legal support, stressing the need for long-term aid to families who lost their sole earners.

Most victims died due to suffocation

Investigators revealed that most victims died due to suffocation inside the underground kitchen area of the club. Of the 25 bodies recovered, 23 showed no burn injuries, suggesting a sudden loss of oxygen. Only two bodies were severely charred.

Tourists from Uttarakhand also perished

In addition, tourists from Uttarakhand also perished. Anita Joshi from Ranikhet died in the blaze, while her sisters Saroj and Kamla Joshi were also identified among the victims. Vinod Kumar, husband of Bhavna from Ranikhet, was another casualty.

Arrests and investigation

Police arrested four individuals on Sunday in connection with the inferno. A fifth accused, the manager responsible for daily operations, was arrested in Delhi on Monday. Investigators are probing lapses in safety measures, including the lack of emergency exits and ventilation in the underground kitchen where most victims were trapped.

Authorities suspect negligence in fire safety compliance, with questions raised about overcrowding and inadequate evacuation protocols. The tragedy has sparked nationwide outrage, with demands for stricter enforcement of safety norms in entertainment venues.

Families in grief

In Uttarakhand, the tragedy has left villages in mourning. Families of the victims are struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss. For many, the deceased were young men who had migrated for work, sending money home to sustain households dependent on farming.

Local residents described the atmosphere as heavy with sorrow. “Satish was the hope of his family. His death has broken them completely,” said a neighbour in Tehri Garhwal. Similar sentiments echoed in Champawat and Pithoragarh, where communities gathered to console grieving families.

Government response

The Uttarakhand administration has assured support to the families. Local representatives have demanded financial compensation and legal aid, stressing that the victims were not tourists but employees who had migrated for livelihood.