Team Herald
PANJIM: A fire broke out on Sunday afternoon at the Inox courtyard in Panjim, where a temporary stage for the Serendipity Festival was under construction.
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The blaze reduced the structure to ashes, though no injuries were reported. Workers present at the site fled to safety as the fire spread rapidly.
Fire Officer Dilip Gawas from the Fire Force Headquarters in Panjim stated, “We received a call at around 4.30 pm and arrived at the scene within five minutes. The temporary stage structure had caught fire, and people were attempting to douse the flames. Our team joined in and managed to extinguish the fire quickly.”
Gawas pointed out the lack of basic safety measures at the site. “Those carrying out the work had not taken any precautions. There were no fire extinguishers or sand buckets. It’s unclear if the fire was caused by a short circuit or ongoing welding work. An investigation will be conducted,” he said. The fire spread rapidly due to cloth materials used in constructing the stage.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (FES) plans to issue a notice to the event organisers, urging them to ensure safety measures are implemented for the festival, held annually in Panjim.
Reacting to the incident, the Congress party criticised the government, accusing it of negligence. “How was welding allowed at the Inox courtyard and the Old GMC Heritage Building precinct, resulting in a major fire? Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant must clarify whether all necessary permissions, including those from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and Disaster Management Authority, were obtained by the organisers,” the party said in a statement.
The fire has raised concerns about safety protocols at large-scale public events, with calls for stricter oversight to prevent such incidents in the future.
