TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
VASCO: A major fire was averted by the quick action of residents near Our Lady of Candelaria Church at Baina-Vasco in the wee hours on Saturday, but the inability of a fire tender to reach the site has exposed the failure of authorities to widen the road.
According to fire officials, the regulator of a cylinder in a house suddenly caught fire and burst into flames. Inmates then raised an alarm and people in the area rushed to their aid and extinguished the fire.
However, fire department officials complained that due to a narrow road, they could not reach closer to the site.
“Had there been a major fire, the surrounding houses would have been engulfed in the blaze,” said a fireman.
Meanwhile, locals claimed that although a 6-metre-wide road has been shown on the ‘ODP’, the Vasco Planning and Development Authority and the PWD have failed to widen the road.
“The VPDA gives permission for buildings depending on the proposed 6-metre-road on the ODP, but has failed to widen the road,” said one resident.
Residents have also requested Power Minister Milind Naik to replace the electricity poles as the low-lying cables have hampered the movement of fire tenders.
