A devastating fire incident at Khoirut in Aldona completely gutted a house, reducing all belongings to ashes and leaving the occupants in distress. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning when the house was unoccupied.
According to houseowner Sapna Gaude, she lit a lamp as part of her morning prayers before leaving for work. “I had breakfast and stepped out for about two hours. When I returned, I noticed smoke and something burning. I immediately alerted my neighbours,” she said. By the time help arrived, most household items had already been destroyed.
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The fire consumed valuables including a cupboard, clothes, a new TV set, mixer, cooking induction stove, utensils, furniture, electrical appliances, gold ornaments, a mobile phone, and cash amounting to over ₹35,000. Crucially, all important documents were also burnt. The total loss is estimated to exceed ₹2 lakh.
Fire Brigade Officer Sahid M Khan stated that the department received a call at around 9:45 am. “We rushed to the site immediately with our team and managed to douse the fire, which was confined to one room. The preliminary loss is estimated to be over ₹1 lakh, with most electrical and household items destroyed,” he said.
Dilip Redkar, a family member, said that room where his sister was staying was completely gutted in fire. He suspected that the fire may have been triggered by the oil lamp lit earlier.
“The loss is huge as everything – furniture, clothes, electrical equipment, gold, and cash, has been destroyed,” he added.
Dipali Redkar, another family member, recounted the panic upon discovering the fire. “When we returned from work, we saw smoke coming from the house. We tried to pour water and switched off the electricity before calling for help. We felt completely helpless watching everything burn,” she said.
Ward member Abhitnya Saterdekar, who visited the site, confirmed that the room where the family resided was entirely gutted. “As per the family, a lamp lit for prayers could have caused the fire. It is tragic as all their belongings have been reduced to ashes,” she stated.
Local MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira also visited the site and assured support to the affected family. He urged residents to exercise caution while lighting lamps and leaving homes unattended. “We will ensure the family receives necessary assistance and compensation. Efforts will be made to provide financial support so that they can recover from this loss,” he said.
