MARGAO
A major fire at Navelim on Thursday evening gutted four vehicles, including a BMW car, destroying property worth lakhs of rupees.
While the vehicles were engulfed in flames on the ground floor, the incident caused anxious moments after several residents of the building were trapped inside, including three persons who were stuck in the lift.
Before the Margao fire brigade could arrive at the spot, local residents launched rescue operations, as some residents, out of fear, rushed to the building terrace. Three persons trapped inside the lift were later rescued.
Fire officer Gill D’Souza told the media that no one was injured in the incident. A senior citizen faced breathing difficulties and was attended to by ambulance staff. A minor boy was also rescued by locals.
The fire officer said the fire is believed to have originated in the BMW car before spreading to two other cars and a two-wheeler. He said timely firefighting operations prevented the fire from spreading to the building.
He said the occupants of the apartments were trapped inside as they tried to rush out through the lift, while some took shelter on the building terrace out of panic.
“When we received the fire call, we told some people that those trapped inside the building should not try to rush out as they would face the risk of smoke billowing from the burning cars.”
The loss caused by the fire is being ascertained.
Further investigation is underway.
