Among the 25 people who died in the massive fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, Goa, were four members of 40-year-old Bhavna Joshi’s family. Joshi, the sole survivor, was visiting Goa with her family when she lost her husband and three sisters that night.
Speaking to Newslaundry, Joshi said, “The accident was so horrific that I can't even comprehend what happened. I can’t believe that my husband and three sisters are no longer alive. Nobody helped us there. I was alone, and only my family from Delhi helped me.”
Her father, Balkishan Joshi, is also overwhelmed with grief. “I had only four daughters, and now three of them and my son-in-law are gone. Everything is ruined. The government should give the strictest punishment to those responsible for this tragedy,” he told Newslaundry.
Bhavana Joshi’s family, who reside in Sadatpur Extension in northeast Delhi, are not happy with the assistance they’ve received from the government. So far, the Goa government has reportedly sanctioned Rs 85 lakh as gratuitous relief to the legal heirs/next of kin of those who lost their lives, and the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for the injured.
The club owners, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, have fled the country to Thailand. These businessmen own a large network of restaurants and bars spread across more than 30 cities in Dubai and the Delhi-NCR region. Meanwhile, the club's co-owner, Ajay Gupta, has been detained in Delhi. The Goa Police are interrogating several officials and employees associated with the club. Meanwhile, the Goa Tourism Department demolished the club on Tuesday.
Watch.
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