TOWERING INFERNO
12
Tenders used to extinguish the fire
35
Firemen joined the operations
----------------------------------------MARGAO: A raging fire at the Cuncolim Industrial estate on Thursday noon gutted a boat craft manufacturing unit, including 11 fibre boats, besides machinery, destroying property worth around Rs 15 crore.
Firemen also rescued and evacuated the staff and employees of two adjoining units which were also partially damaged by the raging fire.
The incident occurred at around 1.30 pm when the fire, which is believed to have originated in a dry grass behind the unit, first engulfed eight fibre boats stored in the backyard, before the fire spread to the shed and gutted three more which were under construction, apart from the machinery.
The boats under construction inside the shed, which were being given finishing touches, were scheduled to be delivered to a party from Andaman and Nicobar islands on Saturday. Similarly, the eight boats which were stored in the open space behind the shed were ready for delivery to the concerned parties.
Owner John Fernandes said the fire has totally devastated the units, and have destroyed as many as 11 boats, including three boats under construction. He has pegged the loses on account of destruction of the boats and machinery to a whopping Rs 15-16 crore. “The fire has totally destroyed the boats, machinery and the shed. The boats ready for delivery have been gutted in the fire,” he said.
John lamented that a huge time was wasted in the fire fighting operation as the fire tenders had to come from far away places such as Margao, Curchorem and Verna. “Some people from the Industrial estate sent two water tankers to the unit to assist in the fire fighting operations as the fire tenders had to come from far away places," he said.
Fire Divisional officer, Nitin Raikar told the media that it took two hours for the firemen to bring the raging fire under control. He said fire tenders from Margao, Curchorem and Verna were requisitioned in the fire fighting operation. “We used around 12 tenders to extinguish the fire. Around 35 firemen joined the operations,” Nitin said.
To a question, he said the firemen also rescued female employees working in the adjoining Rototech Technique motor manufacturing unit which was also affected by the fire. “Ladies working in the two units were rescued and evacuated as the fire spread to these units,” he added.
To another question, the fire officer said that the exact cause of fire is being ascertained by the fire brigade even as it was believed that the fire from dry grass spread to the boats before engulfing the shed manufacturing the boats.
Thick black smoke billowing from the Industrial estate, sources said, could be spotted as far as Assolna, indicating the devastation the incident had caused to the unit.
