SANGUEM
Despite frantic efforts by the team of firefighters and assistance from helicopter service, the fire at Kalay village within Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary continued to spread in the adjoining areas on the sixth day.
Given the extensive damage caused to the environment and wildlife, a large number of village youth and those associated with Bajrang Dal and RSS also assisted the firefighting team of the Forest Department.
The village youth have been working tirelessly in tandem with the team of the forest department to help the douse the fire but given the thick foliage it remains to be totally extinguished as of now.
Former Sarpanch of Kalay Village Kishore Rama Gauns Dessai informed that the Department also sought help of helicopter service today which made several sorties around the hillock spraying water which helped in controlling the fire to some extent.
The fire has now almost reached the top of the hill towards Collem side and is likely to be brought under control by Monday if helicopter sorties continue.
Workers from the Goa Human Resource Development Corporation were also brought to assist in the firefighting operation which helped a lot, informed Dessai who himself has put it in around 50 workers of his own since past few days.
As of now, a vast portion of thick forest cover is damaged which is highly disturbing, added Dessai.
