29 Apr 2020  |   03:55am IST

FIBRE BOAT GUTTED IN FIRE AT CORTALIM SHIPYARD

A large fibre boat reportedly built for the Coastal Police and other equipment were destroyed, while another fibre boat was partially damaged in a major fire at a shipyard in Bondir in Thane-Cortalim on Sunday evening. Two fire fighters sustained sustained injuries in the firefighting operations and were shifted to Hospicio hospital in Margao. While the cause of the fire at the Sachida Engineering Works is unclear, the loss to property could run into several lakhs of rupees. The fire was so intense that a thick black smoke could be seen from afar. According to sources, three fire tenders, one each from Vasco, Verna and Margao, were pressed into service to control the fire and firefighting operations went on late Sunday evening. “The huge fibre boat gutted in the fire was ready many days ago and was to have been handed over to the Coastal Police in a few days.” “However, the boat was left in the yard because of the lockdown. The engine on the fibre boat gutted in the fire may itself cost about Rs 25-30 lakh and we expect other losses could run into several lakhs of rupees,” said the source. According to a fire station press note, the boats belonged to Amitas Structural and Fibre Glass Work, owned by Sayyed Nizamuddin. Two fire fighters, Rama Gaude (Verna fire services) and Mahadev Varak (Margao fire services) sustained injuries in the firefighting operations and were shifted to Hospicio hospital in Margao. The shipyard owner, Sameer Shirodkar, told reporters that the yard was given on a contract to another person, who was building fibre boats in the yard. "I was at home when there was noise about a fire in the yard. I alerted the fire services and rushed to the yard to remove whatever equipments that could be saved.” “There were two boats in the yard. One huge fibre boat and a mould have been destroyed, while another fibre boat was partially damaged in the fire. There were some generators but the items destroyed in the fire can be assessed by the contractor running the yard," said Shirodkar. Verna Fire Officer Vasant Gaude said the fire services received a call at around 5.30 pm. "We rushed to the site and noticed a fibre boat on fire. Since the fire was huge, we sought reinforcements from Vasco and later, from Margao as well.” “One large fibre boat has been gutted and we partially saved another fibre boat. We cannot comment on the cause of fire or loss to property. These are being investigated,” said Gaude