VALPOI
The spate of fire incidents in Goa continued on Sunday with a massive blaze being reported at the reserve forest at Satre-Sattari while 4 four-wheelers parked near Zuarinagar Police Station were gutted.
In the fire at the reserve forest at Satre-Sattari, several acres of cashew plantations were destroyed with the loss running into several lakhs of rupees.
Locals said efforts were on to bring the fire under control which started at the Dipaji Rane Mountain in Satre. Satre is a village on the border between Goa and Karnataka in Nagargaon Panchayat area and is completely surrounded by forest.
Villagers claimed that over 15 acres of cashew nut plantation belonging to 15 persons had been completely burnt.
On receiving information, officials of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary also rushed to the spot and tried to douse the fire but were unsuccessful. Officials said the rich bio-diversity, including plant and animal life had been destroyed.
Mhadei Sanctuary officials also claimed that the fire had started three days ago and an attempt was made by the employees to extinguish it. They, however, were not successful as the terrain was difficult.
In Zuarinagar, 4 four-wheelers parked near Zuarinagar Police Station, including a taxi, were gutted in fire.
Fire tenders from Vasco, Verna and ZACL were pressed into service to douse the fire. It is suspected that the dry grass caught fire first which further spread across. Loss is estimated to be to over Rs 20 lakh.
