MARGAO, DEC 26
A power feeder pillar-box was completely gutted in a major fire that broke out at the New Market on Friday afternoon.
The estimated loss of property on account of the fire is being put at Rs 1 lakh.
Cables, a power box inside the pillar box were reduced to ashes as the raging fire completely burnt the box, before the fire services came and prevented further damage.
The fire is believed to have originated from the waste dumped near the pillar-box located in the lane connecting the pick-up stand road to the New Market.
It is believed that an unknown person set the waste on fire, which later spread to the pillar box, before gutting it completely.
An agitated shop owner Amin said that they had been complaining to the Margao Municipal workers to clear the waste dumped near the power box, but in vain.
They claimed that MMC workers ignored their pleas to clean up the place in the past on grounds that it was not their duty to clear the waste lying unattended in the lane.
Assistant Engineer, Sunil Wadekar told Herald that the feeder pillar-box along with the cables and an internal box were damaged in the fire incident. He said the estimated loss would be in the region of Rs 1 lakh.
