the goan I network
MARGAO
Thick black smoke billowing from the SGPDA retail market on Thursday noon gave some anxious moments for citizens and passers-by before realisation dawned that the scrap material and thermocol waste was engulfed in a major fire.
Margao fire brigade received numerous calls since 1.45 pm as the black smoke billowing from the Market complex could be seen from a distance. A fire tender that rushed to the PDA market later found that the scrap material was engulfed in a fire. It could not be ascertained whether the scrap material was set afire as part of the clean up operation in the market in view of the scheduled visit of Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu to the market to lay the foundation stone for the state-of-the-art food testing laboratory on Sunday.
PDA official Paul Gomes, however, pointed out that the fire could have occurred accidentally by a cigarette butt.
The place, which is located near the biogas plant, has been used for dumping of scrap materials, handcarts, thermocol boxes.
The Fire services, which pressed into service a fire tender, said the fire must have caused a loss of Rs 10,000.
