Cachar’s Manojit Mal, Rahul Tanti Dies in Goa Nightclub Fire

Two young men from Cachar district were among the 25 people who lost their lives in a massive fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, Goa, on Saturday (December 6). The blaze tore through the building within minutes, trapping most of the staff inside. Two families in Cachar are now devastated as they struggle to come to terms with the sudden deaths of their only earning members.

One of the victims, Manojit Mal, aged around 25, was a resident of Dharamkhal in Silcoorie Tea Estate area. Another, Rahul Tanti of Kathal Grant had just joined the club as a staff on the day of the unfortunate incident.

Manojit’s family was informed after his cousin, who also worked at the nightclub as a kitchen staffer, identified his body. The cousin was in the toilet when the fire began. He told the family that he stepped out of the toilet and immediately saw the building covered in flames. According to him, around 30 staff members were present at the time and only 5 survived. Manojit was among those 25 who could not escape.

Manojit’s father, Maniram Mal, said his son had worked in Bengaluru and Goa before returning home briefly for his sister’s wedding. Holding back tears, he said, “He came home for his sister’s wedding and went back again. Now he is gone”. He also shared that his son used to work along with his cousins and that the family received the news from one of them.

Manojit’s uncle, Dhaniram Mal, said the family was struggling both emotionally and financially. He added that Manojit was the only earning member of his family as his father is not physically fit. His younger sister is physically disabled. Manojit’s income kept the family afloat. He is survived by his parents, younger brother and sister.

In another heartbreaking case, Rahul Tanti of Kathal Grant, Silchar, had joined the nightclub as a staff member on the very day the fire broke out. He had left home only days earlier to begin his new job in Goa. His family said he had travelled from Kathal Grant to Goa with hopes of earning for his wife and three children. The news of the tragedy has left the entire area in deep shock, and his family is struggling to cope with the sudden loss.

Rahul’s father said his son had assured him before leaving that he would take care of the family. He said, “My son left saying I do not have to work anymore. Now my son is gone. I wanted to go and he did not allow me. It has only been a few days since he went. He just left and now this has happened.” He added that Rahul had worked in Goa earlier as well, but this time he had gone for the sake of his children’s future. Rahul is lived by his parents, three children and wife.

The father, overwhelmed with grief, said he did not know the exact details of what happened inside the nightclub. He only knew that his eldest son would never return. According to him, it was Rahul’s first day at work when the fire took place. The family is now left without support and is trying to understand how such a tragedy could take away the person they depended on the most.

Both families are now in deep sorrow as Cachar mourns the loss of two of its own in one of the deadliest nightclub fires reported in Goa in recent times. The incident has raised concerns over safety measures in commercial establishments.