Week on, no structural test or clarity on fire at Dawood building

Incidentally, the authorities had decided a day later, on Thursday, on the instructions of Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and in the presence of South Goa District Collector Egna Cleetus, that Deputy Collector Ramesh Gaonkar would send a letter to Margao Municipal Chief Officer Melvyn Vaz, seeking the services of the Goa College of Engineering to conduct the structural stability test on the Dawood building.

Sadly, a week has passed since the raging fire raised questions on fire safety and structural stability of the Dawood building, but the stability test is yet to take place.

When 'The Goan' called up Deputy Collector Ramesh Gaonkar to shed light on the structural stability test of the Dawood building, he was quick to reply that his office had sent a letter to Margao Municipal Chief Officer Melvyn Vaz to conduct the structural stability test.

Incidentally, when 'The Goan' contacted Margao Municipal officials to find out the status of the stability test, officials said they had already dispatched a letter to the Goa College of Engineering to conduct the test. “We will find out from the Goa College of Engineering when their team will come to conduct the test,” the MMC official added.

Interestingly, the cause of the Wednesday fire is still shrouded in mystery. The fire brigade pointed out that the Fire Services have written a letter to the police to ascertain whether the fire was due to arson or otherwise, adding that another letter has been dispatched to the Power Department to find out the cause of the fire. “So far, we have not received any reports on the cause behind the fire at Dawood building,” informed a fire official.