BICHOLIM
A major fire that broke out at the Civil Supplies godown at Karapur-Tisk late Wednesday night, destroying 90 tonnes of garbage and property estimated at about Rs 1 crore.
According to sources in Bicholim fire station, about 10 fire tenders from different fire stations were summoned to extinguish the fire and carry out rescue operations, which continued till late Thursday evening.
Bicholim fire station officer Laxman Majik informed that the cause of fire was not known and they have written to the Bicholim Police and electricity department to find the cause of fire. “The extinguishing operations were conducted under the guidance of divisional officer Rajendra Kumbharjuvekar from Ponda fire station,” said Majik.
Majik said a fire tender was kept standby at the site to control the fire, if it erupts suddenly. “The total loss estimated is in the house of about Rs 1 crore and the exact loss would be ascertained after a detailed panchanama of the incident is conducted,” informed Majik.
According to Majik, they received a call from control room Panaji at about 11.30 pm on Wednesday informing that fire broke out at the Civil Supplies godown at Karapur. The fire personnel rushed to the spot, but when they saw that it was a major fire, they immediately called fire tenders from different fire stations.
In all, 10 fire tenders including two each from Bicholim, Valpoi and Panaji, one each from Ponda, Margao, Old Goa and Mapusa were pressed into service and the fire extinguishing operations continued throughout the night till late Thursday evening with the help of about 80 fire brigade personnel.
They were guided by SFOs Laxman Majik from Bicholim, Santosh Gaonkar (Old Goa), Shailesh Gawade (Ponda), Namdev Gawas (Valpoi) and Atchut Dhwaskar (Bicholim). The entire operation was carried under the guidance of divisional officer Rajendra Haldankar.
Majik further informed that the godown was given on rent to a contractor by Civil Supplies department to collect garbage and about 90 tonnes of garbage was stored in it.
The impact was such that even roof sheets of the godown were flung away and reduced to ashes, while the walls developed cracks. Two shovels were pressed into service since early Thursday morning to clear the charred property.
