MARGAO
A major fire broke out at the Dawood building in Margao housing over 200 inhabitants on Wednesday afternoon, gutting around 10-12 tenements, primarily on the second and third floors.
No one was injured as residents rushed out of their rooms after noticing the fire on the building's third floor. After residents raised an alarm, locals joined the fire personnel to remove all the LPG cylinders from the building.
While locals said the fire had started around 2 pm, Fire Officer Gill D’Souza confirmed that the fire brigade received the emergency call at 2.42 pm. Given the gravity of the situation, the Margao Fire Services sent an SOS to their counterparts at Cuncolim, Ponda, and Verna to join in the operation.
It was only after a three-hour-long operation that the fire was finally controlled at around 6 pm, Gill said. It is believed that around 30,000 litres of water was used to douse the flames.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Officer Gill expressed surprise at how the fire spread across the top floor, saying, “It is indeed a mystery how the fire could spread from one end to another. We are ascertaining the cause of the fire.”
Gill said the financial losses from the fire are still being assessed and the exact amount will be known after the residents submit their losses. Sources indicated that no one was staying on the top floor of the building, which is used to store goods, including garments.
Incidentally, Fire Officer Gill had to be rushed to the hospital after experiencing dizziness and breathlessness following the intense heat he endured during the three-hour-long firefighting operation.
The building’s structural integrity has come under scrutiny following the fire. The beleaguered residents were told to evacuate to the Nehru stadium, Fatorda. Some of the residents, however, shifted to a community hall near a Masjid located nearby, while others preferred to spend the night with their relatives.
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Building's structural safety in doubt following blaze
MARGAO: The structural stability of the Dawood building in Margao has come into serious question following Wednesday’s devastating fire. The building, an old structure, sustained significant damage from both the intense heat of the fire and the large amount of water used by firefighting teams.
Fire officers reportedly used over 30,000 litres of water to bring the fire under control, raising concerns about the building's ability to remain safe for habitation. Fire Officer Gill D’Souza stated, “This is an old building. The heat generated by the fire and the water used to bring the fire under control has made the building unsafe for people to stay.”
In light of these concerns, Deputy Collector of Margao, Ramesh Gaonkar, arrived at the scene on Wednesday evening to assess the situation and discuss the possibility of relocating residents to safer locations, including the Nehru Stadium as a precautionary measure.
Later in the evening, Salcete Mamlatdar Vimod Dalal and his staff were seen at the building, coordinating efforts to assist with the relocation of the affected residents.
Margao Municipal Ward Councillor Deepali Sawal told the media that while some residents chose to stay with relatives, others were in need of temporary shelter. "There are some who may not have any place to go, so we have decided to shift them to a safe place,” she explained.
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Residents flee in panic, leaving behind valuables
MARGAO: The fire that broke out on the top floor of the Dawood building in Margao forced residents, including women and children, to flee the structure, leaving behind their belongings.
As the flames rapidly spread across the top floor, the alert residents took immediate action, first removing LPG cylinders from the building as a safety measure. While watching fire personnel battle the blaze, many residents were visibly anxious about the fate of their personal belongings, including gold ornaments and money stored in their rooms.
The affected residents anxiously awaited the firefighting operations to end so they could retrieve their valuables. One woman explained how her family quickly evacuated their room when the fire reached the top floor, leaving behind their belongings in the rush to escape. “We brought out the LPG cylinders from our rooms as soon as the news spread that the fire had broken out,” she said.
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Building a political battleground for migrant community votes
MARGAO: The Dawood building, located in the heart of Margao on the southern side of the railway tracks, is not just a residential complex but also a significant political hotspot.
Reportedly housing over 300 voters, predominantly migrant families, the building is a key area for political campaigning, with politicians of all parties actively courting its residents during every election cycle.
Not all the voters may be living in the building, with some staying at the Housing Board and other places, but they unfailingly come on voting day to cast their votes in the elections, be it the Municipal, Assembly, or Lok Sabha polls.
Sources say it is because of the voting status enjoyed by the building that no politician could afford to ignore the building and its inhabitants over the years.
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Politicians across party lines step in to assist fire-affected residents
MARGAO: Following the fire that engulfed the Dawood building in Margao on Wednesday evening, politicians from across the political spectrum rushed to the scene to oversee the situation and show their support to the affected residents.
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat’s son Yogiraj rushed to the spot to supervise the operations. Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar was also present, offering assistance and ensuring coordination. Municipal Ward Councillor Deepali Sawal remained at the scene until late in the evening, while neighbouring Ward Councillor Mahesh Amonkar was also seen providing support to the efforts.
Politicians from the opposition camp were equally quick to show up. Former Margao municipal chairperson and current councillor Ganashyam Shirodkar was spotted at the site, offering his help. Former MMC chairperson Savio Coutinho also visited the building and made a public plea to the government to ensure the rehabilitation of the displaced residents, given concerns about the stability of the building.
