The investigation into the horrific nightclub fire in North Goa, which claimed 25 lives, has now widened to include a Kazakh national who was performing at the venue minutes before the blaze erupted. Kristina, a professional dancer from Kazakhstan, was on stage at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora when the flames engulfed the bamboo-lined roof above her.
Videos from that night have gone viral on social media, showing Kristina dancing to the popular song “Mehbooba Mehbooba” just moments before sparks appear on the ceiling and panic breaks out among the crowd. What began as a normal weekend performance turned into one of Goa’s deadliest tragedies in recent years.
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Was Kristina Working Without a Valid Visa?
Officials from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) have now confirmed that Kristina’s visa status is under detailed examination. According to a senior FRRO officer quoted by PTI, she had applied for a business visa, but the approval had not yet come through.
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Without a valid business visa, a foreign national is not permitted to perform or take up professional work in India.
Superintendent of Police (FRRO) Arshi Adil said authorities are still checking whether she possessed any alternate permission. For now, officials say they are “verifying all documents and circumstances” surrounding her presence at the nightclub that night.
Who Is Kristina?
Kristina is a professional belly dancer from Kazakhstan and a mother to a young child. She was performing her second act of the evening when the fire broke out. In the video, she and others can be seen rushing off the stage as burning pieces of bamboo fall from the ceiling.
Later, she told officers that a staff member warned her not to head toward the green room a split-second decision that likely saved her life, as the area was already filled with thick smoke.
Nightclub Owners Flee India Hours After Tragedy
As investigators pieced together what caused the fire, another startling detail emerged. The owners of Birch by Romeo Lane brothers Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra left India just hours after the incident.
Immigration records show they boarded IndiGo flight 6E 1073 to Phuket, Thailand, at 5:30 AM on Sunday, barely hours after the fire broke out around midnight. Goa Police say the timing of their departure strongly indicates an attempt to evade the investigation.
Police have now approached the CBI to issue an Interpol Blue Notice to help trace the Luthra brothers abroad. Meanwhile, one of the club’s partners, Ajay Gupta, was detained on Tuesday for questioning.
Authorities say they are also examining the club’s fire safety compliance, permissions, and use of flammable materials as part of the wider probe. The investigation continues as families of victims demand accountability and justice.