CANACONA
Barely weeks after a Bhatti-Hut (toddy distillery) was allegedly set ablaze and destroyed in Palolem, another Bhatti-Hut also went up in flames at Palolem on Wednesday evening but the local councillor has ruled out foul play in the latest incident.
Dumentina Goes and her family members who were residing in their house noticed the Bhatti-Hut, which was used by them to cook food and warm water for bath, engulfed in flames and alerted the Canacona fire station.
Incidentally, the flames reached an overhead water tank near the Bhatti–Hut and the stand also caught flames. As a result, the water tank came tumbling down and partially doused the fire. But the Bhatti-Hut was almost reduced to ashes by the time a fire tender reached the spot.
Firewood, some old Liquor Pots (Karbe), a copper vessel (Bhaan), some plastic items including buckets and utensils stored in the hut were destroyed in the fire.
A fire tender found it difficult to access the site and firefighters used the lengthy water pipe from the fire tender to douse the fire
The firefighters, however, prevented the fire from spreading to the nearby residential house of Dumentina Goes.
Local Councillor Simon Rebello was one of the first to reach the site. Ruling out foul play or sabotage, Rebello said the fire could have started accidentally.
According to the Canacona fire services, Goes (83) suffered a loss of over Rs 1.05 lakh, while property worth Rs 2 lakh was saved.
Canacona Station Fire Officer Ravindranath Pednekar, leading Firefighter S K Dessai, Driver – Cum-Operator AM Gaoankar, firefighters Paresh Bhagat, VS Velip and Fire Recruits VV Naik and Sudesh took part in the operations.
