Disaster struck again, and the government machinery could do little but watch. A devastating midnight fire gutted nearly 140 shops at Vasco’s Sunday Market, reducing months of festive stock to ashes just days before Diwali. Luckily, there were no human tragedies. Fires of this scale are becoming a deeply disturbing pattern. Looking through these raging flames, there is nothing but a sheer disregard for public safety, bureaucratic apathy and an endless shifting of responsibilities.
The Vasco fire is another stark reminder of the government apparatus repeatedly failing to protect its commercial hubs, only to arrive after the damage is done with political visits, assurances, and promises that rarely translate into action. The cycle keeps repeating — a devastating fire, followed by outrage and promises, expert safety reports, delays and inaction, lack of enforcement or training, and finally another disaster.
What is appalling is the fact that there was a lack of even basic fire emergency preparedness at the Vasco market with many fire hydrants non-functional. While the State was dealing with nightclubs flouting fire safety norms after the Birch inferno that claimed 25 lives, it appears that authorities failed to run a reality check on markets.
When firefighters reached the scene, they faced a situation that had already spiralled out of control. Narrow, congested lanes and panicked crowds hampered access, while there was no adequate water to douse the raging flames. Consider the sheer absurdity of what followed. Fire tenders had to make four to six trips each to replenish their water supplies. Emergency support from naval bases and industrial units was needed to help contain the blaze. In a major commercial centre, where hundreds of traders work and thousands of people gather, such a critical gap in fire preparedness is simply not acceptable. Every second matters during a fire.
What happened in Vasco is not an isolated failure. It is part of a recurring pattern that Goa's authorities have had ample opportunity to address but have repeatedly failed to confront. The fire at Margao Municipal New Market in December 2023 should have served as an eye-opener. It exposed the vulnerabilities of one of South Goa's most important commercial centres and highlighted the urgent need for stronger fire safety measures. The Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services subsequently outlined practical recommendations, including installing fire hydrants, clearing access, forming volunteer teams among traders, and training municipality personnel.
It took years for authorities to put these measures in place. And while fire hydrants were eventually installed at Margao Municipal New Market, questions remained about whether they were operational and capable of delivering adequate water pressure. Even now, there are questions about the failure to impart training on the use of those hydrants. Infrastructure that is not tested and maintained can only offer a false sense of security.
The same complacency brings to mind the grim lessons of the Birch Fire tragedy, a reminder of the devastating consequences that can follow when structural hazards and inadequate safety precautions are allowed to persist in public spaces. Markets are especially vulnerable. Combustible tarpaulins, obstructed exits, cramped passageways, faulty electrical installations, and non-functional firefighting equipment can turn an ordinary day into a catastrophe. A marketplace should be a place where people earn a living, not a space where preventable hazards threaten their lives and everything they have worked to build. Most of Goa’s markets are vulnerable to such tragedies, including the famous Mapusa market.
The government takes pride in upgrading market facades, constructing designer roofs, or announcing beautification projects while the basic infrastructure needed to prevent tragedies remains inadequate. A market may look modern from the outside, but appearances mean nothing if emergency vehicles cannot reach it, hydrants cannot deliver water, or shopkeepers and municipal staff have no idea how to respond when flames break out. This is not an argument against development. It is an argument for getting the priorities right. Public safety must come before cosmetic improvements, political publicity, and the convenience of postponing difficult decisions.
The government must move beyond expressions of concern and show seriousness in fixing these grey areas. Goa's traditional markets are more than commercial spaces. They sustain families and form an essential part of the State's economic and social life. For many small traders, a single fire can wipe out years of savings and leave them struggling to rebuild their lives. The agony and pain were visible through the cries of the traders and their families in Vasco.
Repeated failure to act cannot be excused. For a developing State, especially with the pace of a double-engine, fire safety should have been a priority across all public spaces. Sadly, what is lacking is the political will and the administrative discipline. Until that changes, Goa will continue to remain exposed to such fire tragedies.
