TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: A cylinder blast at a Caranzalem flat completely gutted the kitchen and bedroom, but fire fighters had to use breathing apparatus to remove the second cylinder Monday morning.
The kitchen platform under which the cylinders were housed took the major impact of the blast. But prompt action by fire fighters who received at call at 10.30 am averted a major fire.
Fifteen fire fighters using quick response team and motorcycle tenders along with Rajendra Haldankar, assistant divisional officer, Bosco Ferrao, Panjim station in-charge managed to save the sitting room and adjacent flats, remove a full cylinder and even rescue the house parrot. Director Ashok Menon personally visited the site given the nature of the fire.
The fire department has written to the Petroleum company asking it to inquire into how the blast occurred and submit a report to them. According to fire officials the cylinder blast occurred while the wife of the owner Yadav, was preparing samosas and sweets for Holi. The woman informed her husband about the fire and children were evacuated. She was not injured but admitted to hospital as she was suffering from high blood pressure probably due to shock.
