VASCO, JAN 6
Mormugao taluka continue to bear the brunt of fire mishaps for the third day, as a fibre factory was gutted at Verna Industrial Estate, destroying property worth Rs 3.5 crore.
According to reports, fibre materials, chemicals and entire factory shed, estimated to cost Rs 3.5 crore were completely gutted in Omega Fibers Factory at Verna Industrial Estate at about 3 am.
Factory watchman Abdul Zafar noticed the fire and immediately called the fire brigade. However, as Verna fire station’s phone was busy, Zafar went running to the fire station, which is located in the neighbourhood of the factory.
Fire tenders from Verna, Vasco, Margao and Panjim Headquarters rushed to the site to control the fire.
The entire operation took over six hours, but by the time operation could get over, the factory was completely gutted in the fire.
“One each fire tender from Verna, Vasco, Panjim and two from Margao were summoned to extinguish the fire. Fire tenders made 22 trips to take water from the neighbouring factory,” said Verna Fire Station Officer Sadguru Palni.
“Due to the stored chemicals and stocks, which were highly flammable, the entire factory was immediately engulfed with fire and due to the collapsed shed, we were forced to carry out extinguish operations from outside the factory, due to which the operation lasted over six hours,” informed Palni.
He further informed that the factory was completely destroyed and materials, machinery and the shed were destroyed in the incident. “The cause of fire is not yet known, Vasco fire department is investigating the incident, but it is suspected to be short circuit,” he said.
Factory owner Majeet Singh informed that the estimated loss would be about Rs 3.5 crore and nothing has been left in the factory, as it was completely damaged in the fire.
Speaking to media, watchman Zafar said when he noticed the fire, he called Verna fire station and as the phone number was busy, he went running to the fire station and informed the officers.
“Workers in the night shift who were sleeping in the rest room rushed out when the fire broke out,” said Zafar.
It may be recalled that on Tuesday, property worth Rs 3 lakh was destroyed, after a house was gutted in a fire at Headland Sada, Mormugao and on Wednesday, a garment stall was gutted in Vasco market, destroying garments worth Rs 10,000.
This is the also third such fire incident in the industrial estate, as earlier two factories in Sancoale Industrial Estate were gutted, damaging properties worth crore of rupees.
