Two shops destroyed in Margao New Market fire; safety concerns resurface

Swift fire service response prevents blaze from spreading to other shops; short circuit suspected; calls grow for better infra

THE GOAN NETWORK | 4 hours ago

Two shops destroyed in Margao New Market fire; safety concerns resurface

One of the two shops completely gutted in the early Saturday fire incident. Fire-fighters battling the inferno.

MARGAO
A major fire broke out at Margao’s New Market in the early hours of Saturday, triggering panic in the congested Margao Municipal Market and once again raising concerns over fire safety in the area.

Fortunately, the blaze was detected in time by a sopo fee collector, and the swift response of the Margao fire brigade helped contain the fire before it could spread, averting a major disaster.

According to officials, two shops—a tailoring unit and a juice shop—were completely gutted. A short circuit is suspected to have caused the fire, as indicated by the extensive damage to electrical fittings within the premises.

The incident came to light when a sopo collector, present in the market collecting fees from traders, noticed smoke and flames emerging from the shops. He immediately raised an alarm and alerted the police and fire services.

Fire personnel rushed to the scene after receiving a call at around 2.56 am and promptly began fire-fighting operations. Fire Officer Gill D’Souza stated that the team managed to confine the blaze to the two affected shops, preventing it from spreading further into the market. “We used half a tanker of water to bring the fire under control,” he said.

As news of the incident spread, traders rushed to the market. Gopal Naik, President of the Margao New Market Merchants Association, said the affected establishments were private shops located on the left side of the first market gate, opposite Morning Star. He praised the fire brigade for their quick response in preventing a larger catastrophe.

The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of the congested municipal market to fire hazards and raised questions about the adequacy of existing safety measures. While the Public Works Department is currently working on installing a dedicated water pipeline around the New Market and Gandhi Market, along with 14 fire hydrants to strengthen fire-fighting capabilities, concerns persist over implementation and preparedness.

Reacting to the incident, Congress leader Chirag Naik and Madganvcho Avaaz convenor Prabhav Naik described the fire as a wake-up call for authorities.

Shop safety is owners’ responsibility: Kamat

MARGAO: Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Digambar Kamat on Saturday said that while the department is undertaking the replacement of the entire roof at Margao’s New Market, ensuring fire safety within individual shops remains the responsibility of shopkeepers.

Kamat asserted that neither the government, the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) nor the PWD can be held accountable for incidents such as short circuits occurring inside the establishments.

The Minister visited the market around noon following the early morning fire that gutted two shops. He was accompanied by New Market Merchants Association president Gopal Naik and Digambar Sawal.

Responding to questions from reporters regarding fire safety measures in the market, a visibly agitated Kamat said, “What safety are you talking about?” When asked specifically about fire extinguishers, he reiterated that the PWD’s current focus is on the comprehensive replacement of the market’s roof.

“Work inside the shops and stalls are the responsibility of the shop owners. Tomorrow, if a trader uses a stove inside the shop leading to a fire, the government or the MMC cannot be blamed,” he said.

Addressing concerns about the early morning wholesale fruit market operating within the New Market —allegedly obstructing access for fire tenders—Kamat defended its presence. “The fruit market has been functioning even before it was born. How can I shift it to the old market area? There are alternate routes for the fire brigade to access the market,” he added.