Three vegetable shops were destroyed in a fire that broke out at the Ponda Market shortly after midnight on Saturday, causing substantial losses to the shop owners. The exact cause of the blaze is yet to be determined.
According to sources, the fire started at around 12.30 a.m. in the central section of the market. Labourers sleeping in nearby rooms noticed the flames and immediately alerted the Ponda Fire and Emergency Services.
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Firefighters rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control before it could spread to other parts of the market. Their swift response is believed to have prevented a major disaster, as the fire could have engulfed several more shops if it had not been contained in time.
Although three vegetable shops were completely gutted, no injuries or casualties were reported. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire while assessing the extent of the damage suffered by the affected traders.
