No casualties; officials suspect sparks during fabrication work
FIRE SCARE: Flames erupt from water tanks atop the Mapusa fish market building during an early morning blaze on Wednesday.
MAPUSA
In yet another fire incident in the town, three large water storage tanks atop the Mapusa fish market building were completely gutted in a blaze that broke out early Wednesday morning, raising fresh concerns over safety measures in public spaces.
According to fire officials, the Mapusa Fire and Emergency Services received a distress call at around 5.47 am, following which a team was immediately rushed to the spot.
Firefighters acted swiftly and managed to bring the flames under control before the fire could spread to other parts of the three-storey market complex.
No injuries or casualties were reported in the incident. However, three of the four water tanks installed on the rooftop were destroyed in the fire. Each tank had a storage capacity of 10,000 litres, officials said, resulting in significant material loss.
A fire department official stated that all four tanks were empty at the time of the incident, which possibly helped prevent a more serious situation.
“The fire was contained in time and did not spread to the structure of the building. Fortunately, there was no water in the tanks, which reduced the risk of further damage,” the official said.
While the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, preliminary inputs suggest that fabrication work was being carried out in the vicinity where the tanks were installed.
Authorities suspect that sparks generated during the work may have triggered the blaze, though this is yet to be officially confirmed.
Sources indicated that a detailed inspection will be carried out to determine the cause and assess any lapses in safety protocols.
The incident comes close on the heels of another recent fire in Mapusa, prompting concerns among residents and traders about fire safety preparedness in the busy commercial hub.
