MARGAO
Sonsodo was engulfed by a major fire on Friday noon, the second such incident in the last one month and a half, even as fire personnel battled to contain it for well around three hours.
Not only the fire brigade effectively brought the fire under control, but also stopped it from spreading further and engulfing thousands of tonnes of waste piled up inside the shed.
The incident occurred ahead of the visit of the Waste Management Minister Antanasio Monserrate and Urban Development Minister Vishwajit Rane for a joint inspection of the site on Tuesday.
The incident is believed to have occurred around noon. The Margao fire brigade received a call from an adjoining school informing of dry grass catching fire adjoining the school.
Fire Officer, Gill D’Sa informed that the first call was received by the fire brigade at around 12.31 pm. The second call came in around 1.45 pm, he informed.
“We had to requisition fire tenders from Curchorem and Ponda,” he said, adding that around 75,000 litres of water were used to bring the fire under control.
The Fire Officer said the fire incident near the school and the one at Sonsodo had no connection at all.
Incidentally, Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Lyndon Pereira sought to give an impression that the fire at Sonsodo spread from a nearby place. “I have been told that fire broke nearby where some fabrication work was underway. It must have later spread to Sonsodo,” Pereira added.
