Team Herald
VASCO: A major fire also broke out in the forested area at a hillock in Cortalim on Thursday afternoon.
On getting the information, fire personnel immediately rushed to the site but the fire engines could not reach atop the hill to extinguish the flames.
The firefighters had to climb the hill and doused the blazed. This being the third fire incident at the same site without any credible cause, the fire officials and locals suspected foul play.
Cortalim MLA Anton Vas who rushed to the site said that this was the third fire incident in the Confraria land within a week and suspected foul day as seven fire incidents have been reported in Cortalim constituency in the last few days. He demanded thorough inquiry so as to ascertain the cause of fires.
Cortalim Sarpanch Senia Pereira too suspected foul play and appealed to the villagers to be cautious during the Holy Week as most of the villagers would visit the churches. She categorically stated that the Village Panchayat will not allow anybody having an eye on the hill to convert it for real estate.
The Verna fire officer too ruled out any possibility of a short circuit as there are no electricity lines on the hillock and they too suspected foul play.
