MARGAO
As the small calibre ammunition manufacturing unit of Hughes Precision Manufacturing Pvt Ltd at the Verna Industrial Estate was engulfed by fire in the wee hours of Saturday, the South Goa district authorities have reported the fire incident to the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) for necessary action.
Sources at the district Collectorate informed that district Collector, Egna Cleetus, IAS has sent an incident report to the PESO for information and action.
Incidentally, Ms Hughes Precision Manufacturing unit was in the news exactly three months ago when an explosion and fire engulfed the company’s propellant magazine storage at Naqueri-Betul on the night of March 20.
Sources in the fire services informed that the manufacturing unit of Ms Hughes Precision at the Verna caught fire in the wee hours of the day. The fire brigade is believed to have received a call at around 4 am. Fire tenders from Verna, Vasco, Margao and Panaji were requisitioned to assist in the fire-fighting operations.
Fire officials pointed out that the fire was brought under control at around 8 am. However, two fire tenders were stationed at the factory unit as a precautionary measure since the company workers were sorting out the damaged boxes containing the propellant.
A fire official informed that the first floor of the unit, the manufacturing storage unit, was engulfed by the fire. The cause of fire is being ascertained. Though the fire officials claimed that the company might suffer huge damage to the property, the exact loss of goods in the fire will be known only after the company submits a detailed report.
