VASCO
Vasco police have launched a detailed investigation into the devastating fire at the Vasco Sunday Market, with investigators examining all possible angles, including the possibility of foul play, even as the cause of the blaze remains undetermined.
The investigation is being led by Mormugao SDPO SP Gurudas Kadam and Vasco PI Vaibhav Naik. Police registered a case against an unknown accused on Thursday, indicating that they are not ruling out any possibility at this stage.
Cause of blaze remains undetermined
According to sources, the police are proceeding cautiously as neither the electricity department nor other authorities concerned have confirmed or ruled out a short circuit as the cause of the fire. With no definitive conclusion emerging on the cause, investigators are examining other possible circumstances surrounding the incident.
“This was a major fire incident in Vasco and the police cannot simply rule out the possibility of foul play without conducting a proper investigation. There is no concrete evidence at present to suggest that anyone deliberately set the shops on fire, but all angles are being examined. The case has been registered against an unknown accused to ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted,” said a source.
The source said police had initially requested affected vendors to record their statements, but many were not in a position to cooperate immediately, given the shock and distress caused by the massive losses.
Police subsequently convinced some affected vendors and other persons to come forward and record their statements, with the enquiry now progressing.
Vendors begin recording statements
Meanwhile, the source also credited the Vasco police with playing a crucial role in managing the chaotic situation at the fire site, particularly in controlling the massive crowds that gathered from across Mormugao taluka.
With affected shopkeepers, their families and hundreds of onlookers converging on the market, the entire stretch of road was packed. Police personnel were among the first to cordon off the area and regulate movement around the burning market.
“There was complete chaos at the site, and some affected vendors even attempted to enter their shops to retrieve their stocks. The police had to prevent them from doing so as it could have resulted in serious injuries or loss of life. There was also an enormous crowd near the fire site, and the situation could easily have turned into a stampede,” the source said.
Crowd control helps avert casualties
The police also worked to facilitate the movement of fire tenders while keeping people away from the danger zone. Despite the scale of the devastation and the enormous loss of property, the incident resulted in no loss of life or reported casualties, with police crowd management playing an important role in preventing the situation from escalating further.
