PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has asked people residing around the ill-fated fire incident site to temporarily shift to a safe location citing that the poisonous smoke could affect their health.
"As per expert reports, carbon monoxide is emitted while extinguishing fire and this could prove hazardous to one's health especially those with breathing problems. We are concerned about the health of people," he said as he rushed to Pilerne, after completing his official engagements in Panaji, to take a stock of the situation.
He further stated that the government will issue an advisory through the district collector, in this regard. "We are asking people with breathing problems and asthma, who are staying within a 2.5 km radius of the factory to shift to some other place in the first phase," he reiterated.
In the second phase plan, Sawant said that people feeling suffocated will be shifted to medical facilities while maintaining that GMC, PHC, CHC doctors, Occupational Health experts, etc are on alert and that ambulances are kept on standby. "Take care of children and elderly. Those feeling unwell should immediately seek medical attention and rush to the hospital/health centre," he said.
The Goa Pollution Control Board officials have also been at the site to check for air quality and other parameters in the surrounding areas. Chief Secretary Puneet Goel and Inspector General of Police Omvir Singh were also seen with the review team.
Perturbed by the incident, the CM claimed that this is the biggest disaster in the history of fire emergency in Goa. He has also ordered a thorough inquiry and warned of strict action against those responsible for the disaster.
