BICHOLIM
Locals at Maina-Navelim in Bicholim taluka fled their homes when a fire destroyed fibreglass equipment at an unused factory on Tuesday afternoon.
According to reports, the Bicholim fire services were informed that dry grass had caught fire near the factory at Navelim at about 1.20 pm.
A number of locals began to feel uneasy and some had breathing difficulties with thick smoke and the burning fibreglass, prompting many locals to leave their homes and move towards nearby fields.
A Bicholim fire tender under the supervision of Bicholim Fire Station Officer Shreepad Gawas went to the site and noticed that big fibre pipes, a tank and other accessories were destroyed in the fire.
As the flames had spread rapidly, additional fire tenders were summoned from Bicholim, Valpoi and Ponda fire stations. The fire was later brought under control and the locals later returned to their homes.
