BICHOLIM
A fire gutted the house of Umesh Kanolkar at Bamanwada in Nanora-Bicholim on Wednesday afternoon. Cash of Rs 2.5 lakh in cash kept to buy jewellery for a relative’s wedding, an additional cash of Rs 1 lakh in the house, and other valuables were destroyed in the house, causing a loss of about Rs 7-8 lakh. Demanding an investigation into the fire, Kanolkar said he had switched off electricity while leaving the house in the morning and said the fire could not have started due to a short circuit.
The fire broke out at about 2 pm when family members were out of the house. Neighbours noticed the fire and alerted the fire station.
On receiving news of the fire mishap, Bicholim MLA Dr Chandrakant Shetye rushed to the site and took stock of the incident. He announced an immediate assistance of Rs 1 lakh from his side and said the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, Disaster Management, experts, investigation team will also be involved, while an NGO would be contacted and efforts would be made to build a new house for the affected family.
Dr Shetye also instructed the Bicholim deputy collector to look into the matter and a report of the incident has been sought from the Talathi.
Former Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal also reached the spot along with Zilla Panchayat independent candidate Meghshyam Raut and inspected the site. He assured the family that he would try and build a new house for them.
The Kanolkar family are presently residing with a relative at Mulgao-Bicholim.
Upon receiving information about the incident, Bicholim ASI Laxman Ghadi conducted a panchnama of the incident under the guidance of Police Inspector Vijay Rane. PI Rane informed that further action will be taken after registering a first information report, if necessary.
