The blaze erupted around 3 am when a sudden short circuit on an electric pole near one of the bamboo-structured restaurants sent a shower of sparks onto the dry, flammable structures. In a matter of moments, flames leapt, engulfing one restaurant after another in a raging chain reaction.
Panic gripped the area as locals rushed to the scene. With little time to react, residents frantically alerted restaurant owners and tried to salvage whatever they could from the rapidly spreading fire. But strong coastal winds fanned the flames, turning the fire into a ferocious inferno that proved impossible to contain.
All seven restaurants were completely destroyed, with losses estimated between Rs 15 to Rs 30 lakh.
A local resident Haresh Mayekar informed that the Pernem Fire Brigade was swiftly alerted, but in a twist, their vehicle got stuck in the loose beach sand, delaying critical response time. Undeterred, firefighters, along with police and locals, battled the blaze using whatever resources they could muster until it was finally brought under control.
The intensity of the fire was such that even towering coconut trees --some nearly 20 metres tall -- were charred. At least four coconut trees and several others in the vicinity were destroyed. Nearby permanent structures also suffered damage, with doors, windows, and glass panes shattered or warped by the heat.
However, a greater tragedy was averted as the restaurants were closed at the time, and no gas cylinders were present inside.
What remains now is a trail of destruction -- ashes where bustling beachside eateries once stood, and a stark reminder of how quickly calm can turn into catastrophe.
