THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
A couple sustained minor injuries after their general store in Sebastianwada-Candolim was gutted in a fire on Friday morning.
According to reports, the incident took place at about 11.50 am when Lawrence Pereira (68) and Isbin Pereira (62) were in the shop.
There was a short circuit and a fire broke out in the shop. The couple tried to put out the fire, when they sustained minor injuries.
Some people pulled out the couple from the shop, when a short while later two gas cylinders in the shop exploded and the entire shop was engulfed in the fire.
The Pilerne fire station was notified and a fire brigade rushed to the site and extinguished the fire with the assistance of a fire tender from the Porvorim fire station.
The couple were treated at a private hospital in Candolim, and were later sent home.
The fire destroyed three fridges, all other equipment and a scooter parked at the back of the shop. The fire brigade and police have estimated that the damage to property is worth more than Rs 5 lakh.
A Calangute police team led by Police Inspector Anant Gaonkar later conducted a panchanama into the incident.
