Team Herald
VASCO: Two shops were gutted and two others were partially destroyed in a major fire in the Mormugao Municipal market at Vasco early Saturday morning.
The Fire and Emergency Services personnel prevented the fire from spreading to other shops in the congested market.
According to information given by Vasco fire officer Dilip Bicholkar, they received a call at 3:40 am and they immediately rushed to the spot. On seeing the three shops engulfed in flames, they called for additional fire tenders and prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent shops.
Though the exact cause of fire was not immediately known, the total loss is estimated to be around Rs 10 lakh. Fire personnel saved property worth over Rs 1 crore.
Bicholkar opined that the fire might have started around midnight. He has requested shopkeepers to install small fire hydrants or extinguishers, as immediate action can prevent major damage.
Upon receiving the information, Vasco MLA Krishna ‘Daji’ Salkar rushed to the site and appreciated the efforts of the fire personnel and the electricity department for their prompt action, and averting a major disaster.
Salkar too urged shopkeepers to adopt safety measures such as installing fire extinguishers and also to appoint watchman during night.