VIBHA VERMA
THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Three iron nails pierced the feet of Vasco Fire Station in-charge Dilip Bicholkar as he led the firefighting operation at the Vasco Sunday market, while another firefighter suffered burns to his hands and back.
Both continued working until the blaze was brought under control, seeking medical attention only after the operation ended.
The fire personnel on duty also faced abuse and alleged manhandling by some traders and locals during the gruelling overnight operation.
Bicholkar said he took a tetanus injection only after completing the operation. The other injured firefighter also sought medical attention after the firefighting effort ended. Their injuries were among the hardships fac ed by personnel who worked through the intervening night of Wednesday-Thursday, along with teams from the Indian Navy, Mormugao Port Authority, Zuari and Goa Shipyard Limited. More than 14 fire tenders from these agencies were pressed into service during the firefighting operation.
“The scale of the effort, however, was not limited to the number of vehicles deployed. Each tender made at least three to four trips to refill water and return to the market, with some making as many as six trips,” Bicholkar said when contacted by The Goan.
The Vasco Fire Station had already attended two emergencies before the market fire broke out. At 10.20 pm on Wednesday, the station received a call about a house fire at New Vaddem. One tender was dispatched to the spot when another emergency call came in at 10.37 pm, reporting a fire at a car accessories shop.
Bicholkar rushed to the second location with his team, while the first tender was redirected there. It reached the shop around 10.50 pm and joined the firefighting effort. At 11.40 pm, barely an hour later, the station received another call -- this time about a fire at Sunday Modern Market Complex. One of the two tenders was diverted to the market, as the Vasco station has two new fire tenders deployed.
Bicholkar explained that although the market was barely a kilometre from the car accessories shop, narrow access roads delayed the tender's arrival by around three minutes. By then, the flames had spread considerably. It is learnt the fire at the market erupted between 11.15 pm and 11.30- 40 pm.
Realising the magnitude of the blaze, the station called for reinforcements from other agencies. “Our immediate priority was to contain the flames along the stretch lined with more than 800 shops,” the officer said. However, firefighters had to contend not only with the intensity of the blaze and the congested lanes but also with hostility from some traders and locals. "We understand how a fire behaves and where we need to direct our efforts. But some traders and locals started abusing us and even manhandled some of our personnel. We, nevertheless, continued with the operation and called for more reinforcement," Bicholkar said.
Tarpaulin sheets suspended across the narrow market passages added to the challenge, providing a path for the flames to spread. Firefighters had to pull them down to prevent the blaze from advancing further. "Even while pulling down the tarpaulin sheets, we faced the brunt of the traders. But we were doing it to ensure that the fire did not spread further," he said.
The congestion also made it difficult for fire tenders to manoeuvre and reverse through the market lanes, hampering their movement. One tender, reportedly belonging to a central agency, developed a technical problem after its hosepipe ruptured under water pressure.
Despite these constraints, the teams managed to prevent the fire from spreading to the adjoining section of the market, which also houses mobile phone shops.
Department seeks action against those who obstructed personnel
The Fire and Emergency Services department is considering identifying those who allegedly obstructed and manhandled its personnel during the operation. The Goan has learnt that it plans to submit a report to the government seeking appropriate action. "They are being identified, and details will be submitted to the government," an official said.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has also said the government will examine the circumstances surrounding the fire, including whether the emergency response faced any delay. "How and why it happened, everything will be investigated. If there was any delay, that too will be inquired into, including the fire and disaster management arrangements," Sawant said.
