Seven shops were totally gutted in a fire that broke out on Thursday night in the old Bicholim market following a short circuit. A total loss of around `78 lakh has been suffered by the shop owners. Teams of fire personnel from Bicholim, Valpoi, Mapusa, Ponda and Panaji rushed to the site and contained the blaze, thereby avoiding a loss of around `1 crore.
Bicholim MLA Dr. Chandrakant Shetye, deputy collector Rohan Kaskar, mamlatdar Rajaram Parab and civic chairperson Kundan Falari were present at the site on Thursday night and Friday morning to take stock of the situation. MLA Dr. Shetye said that instant financial relief will be provided to the shop owners through the chief minister’s relief fund.