TEAM HERALD
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
CALANGUTE: A tourist bus was gutted in a fire at Aradi-Candolim on Wednesday, causing an estimated loss of about Rs 16 lakh.
According to reports, the 12-seater tourist bus (GA-03-N-0952), owned by Suresh Rathod of Candolim, was charred while parked in a residential area at Aradi. The cause of the fire is said to be a short circuit.
Locals and others managed to remove three vehicles from the area to avoid further damage to residents’ property. Luckily, no one was injured.
According to sources, the bus caught fire at about 11 am, creating panic among the bus owner and locals. On noticing the spreading fire, locals removed two trucks and another vehicle from the site to avoid further damage.
They then called the fire services. Fire Service personnel from Pilerne and Mapusa rushed to the site and controlled the fire. They could not save the bus but were able to control the fire using foam.
Calangute Police also rushed to the site and conducted a panchanama.
Bus owner, Suresh Rathod, has ruled out any foul play into the fire accident and said the fire was due to a short circuit in the engine. “I bought the vehicle six months back at a price of Rs 16 lakh and was involved in ferrying tourists in the State,” informed Rathod.
