CLOSE CALL: The roof of the beachside restaurant that was partially damaged after a fire broke out on Friday afternoon.
MAPUSA
Even as memories of the devastating blaze at Birch by Romeo Lane in Arpora that claimed 25 lives just two months ago remain fresh, a popular beachside restaurant in Anjuna caught fire on Friday afternoon, triggering fresh concerns over fire safety in the coastal belt.
The incident occurred at ‘Albayli’, a well-known restaurant located along the Vagator beach stretch in Anjuna.
According to fire officials, the Mapusa Fire Station received a distress call at around 2.42 pm, following which a fire tender was immediately dispatched to the site.
Fire personnel took nearly half an hour to bring the blaze under control and prevent it from spreading to adjoining sections of the restaurant. Officials said the timely intervention averted what could have turned into a major disaster.
Fortunately, only a handful of customers were present at the time of the incident and no injuries were reported.
Preliminary estimates suggest that the fire damaged a portion of the roof on one side of the structure, resulting in losses of around Rs 3 lakh. Fire officials said their prompt action helped save property worth approximately Rs 20 lakh by containing the flames before they could engulf the entire establishment.
The roof was reportedly made of fibre sheets along with some thatched material, which may have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames in the affected section.
Restaurant owners suspect that a short circuit may have triggered the fire, though the exact cause is yet to be officially confirmed.
Station Fire Officer Ganesh Govekar of Mapusa Fire Station said that while fire extinguishers were found installed at the premises, the management has been directed to produce relevant fire safety documents for verification.
“They had fire extinguishers in place in the restaurant. Nevertheless, we have asked the owners to produce all the documents to verify if they had fire NOC,” Govekar said.
The incident comes at a time when fire safety compliance at hospitality establishments is under intense scrutiny following the tragic Arpora blaze. The Birch fire had sparked widespread outrage and led to calls for stricter enforcement of fire norms, particularly in nightlife hubs such as Anjuna, Vagator and Calangute.
Friday’s fire, though contained without casualties, has once again highlighted the vulnerability of beachside structures – many of which use temporary roofing materials – and the pressing need for rigorous safety audits to prevent another catastrophe.
