Team Herald
VASCO: A man was burnt to death after a fire broke out at his house in Headland Sada on Friday. Police suspect that the fire was started by a lit cigarette that the deceased – reportedly a chain-smoker – accidentally left on his bed.
Mormugao police informed that the incident came to light at 5 am, when a neighbour noticed smoke billowing from the house of Ramdas Shripad Mahale. Upon hearing Mahale’s cries for help, he alerted the other neighbours.
“When we heard that smoke was coming out of the house, we rushed there and broke down the door, but we couldn’t save him. We saw his charred body lying near the main door,” said an eyewitness.
Vasco fire and emergency services and Mormugao police rushed to the site and extinguished the flames with the neighbours’ help. Vasco fire officer Namdev Parwar stated, “We found that the fire was not caused by a short circuit as only the deceased’s bed was burnt. The electrical meter and other fixtures are still intact.”
Mormugao Deputy Collector Sabaji Shetye also inspected the site. He suspected that the fire was started by a lit cigarette as the deceased was reportedly a smoker. He said, “Circumstantial evidence shows that the cigarette caused the fire, and subsequently, Mahale was charred to death. Still, I have asked the police to thoroughly investigate the case.”
Mormugao police registered a case of unnatural death and are further investigating the same. The also disclosed that the 48-year-old deceased was staying alone.
