MAPUSA
A massive fire which broke out at a scrapyard at Colvale near Mapusa on Wednesday morning and spread to other scrapyards nearby was brought under control but not fully doused after over seven-hour long firefighting operation involving five fire tenders. Till late evening the fire officers were present at the site as some combustible items inside the scrapyards continued to ignite small fires inside the premises.
At least four persons were injured one of whom suffered over 50 percent burn injuries. All were admitted in the North Goa district hospital for treatment.
Preliminary estimates suggest that damage caused in the fire is likely to run into crores of rupees.
The fire incident was reported at around 10.30 in the morning.
A spark from the welding work that was going on inside the scrapyard belonging to Rizwan Ahmed reportedly caused the fire, senior fire officials at the site informed.
The fire outbreak sparked panic due to the presence of several other scrapyards
leading to chaotic scenes in the area. The fire was so huge that it quickly spread to other three scrapyards in the vicinity.
With the threat of fire spreading becoming imminent, some people who were living in houses and shops nearby were immediately evacuated to a safe area.
The fire was so intense that the fire brigade initially had to use five tenders to bring it under control and later called the services of other fire tenders from other fire stations.
Four JCBs were also pressed into service to remove combustible items from the scrapyards.
The scrapyard reportedly accumulated inflammable items including plastics, tar barrels, discarded electronic goods such as air conditioners, etc. Frequent explosions could be heard which caused more fire inside the premises.
Five fire tenders “ two from Mapusa fire station and one each from Porvorim, Pilerne and Pernem “ fought the blaze for more than seven hours to try and bring it under control.
The narrow roads and close proximity of the scrapyards made life difficult for the fire tenders to negotiate the area and for the fire-fighters to carry the fire-fighting operation.
A fire officer, Ajit Kamat informed that none of the scrapyards caught in the fire incident had NOC from the fire department.
Mamlatdar of Bardez Dashrath Gawas visited the site and took stock of the situation.
“I will prepare a report of the fire incident and submit a report to the North Goa Collector on Thursday,” Gawas told The Goan.
Colvale PI Somnath Mahajik and his police team were present round the clock at the site.
P’yat had demolished scrapyard, but later allotted house number
MAPUSA: One year ago, part of the alleged illegal scrapyard where the fire broke out on Wednesday was demolished by the Colvale panchayat on the directions of the Director of Panchayat.
Former Colvale Sarpanch, Nityanand Kandolkar had taken the initiative to demolish the scrapyard after receiving a go ahead from the panchayat director.
“I had demolished the scrapyard on the directions of the Director of Panchayat. But later on the panchayat issued a house number to the same illegal scrapyard. An inquiry should be conducted in the matter,” Kandolkar said.
Attempts to contact Colvale Sarpanch Liberata Fernandes were unsuccessful as she refused to take calls.
Colvale has turned into a hub for illegal scrapyards with as many as 90 scrapyards located in the village, locals alleged. Locals have complained that the scrapyards deal with hazardous substances which cause pollution in the village.
