TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

MARGAO: This should open the eyes of the planners and the authorities as a fire tender had to literally make its way to enter the Gandhi market area of the city on Tuesday evening.

Following a call that fire has engulfed a building in Gandhi market, a fire tender with fire office Gill Souza headed towards the spot, only to find vehicular obstructions galore along the road. “A traffic jam hampered the movement of the fire brigade. Haphazard parking was the order of the day. Vehicles were found parked on both side. Our fire men had to literally lift the vehicles to make way”, Gill rued.

He said such a situation would certainly come in the way of quick fire fighting and rescue operation in the markets. “Rescue operation will be next to impossible in such a situation. A fire tender needs roads free from obstructions for quick movement and rescue operations”, he said.

Fortunately, the fire did not break out in a building, but in a platform which was used for waste dumping, sources said.

Incidentally, traders of the adjoining New Market have been demanding construction of an overhead water tank at the old fish market for dedicated water supply to the fire hydrants, but in vain. Despite repeated requests by the traders and City Fathers, the overhead water tank is yet to become a reality in the old fish market area.