Midnight blaze burns down 4 Benaulim houses

A major fire completely gutted four residential houses in Vasvaddo area close to the Benaulim beach late Tuesday night, destroying property worth around Rs 15 lakh.

the goan I network | APRIL 27, 2017, 04:43 AM IST

MARGAO

The fire services have claimed to have saved adjoining property worth Rs 20 lakh.   
The incident is believed to have occurred at around 11.45  pm when the fire first occurred in one of the thatched houses, and quickly spread to the remaining structures. A LPG cylinder  explosion only aggravated the situation as the fire gutted the  structures before threatening to spread to the adjoining houses. The  fire reportedly originated when the inmates were cooking inside.   
Locals joined in the fire fighting operations, as they  claimed that the fire brigade arrived late. Fire Officer Gill De Souza,  however, told the media that the fire brigade had responded to the call  at around 12.05 midnight. He said that six fire tenders were pressed  into service, including tenders from Verna, Panaji, Sanvordem, besides  three tenders from Margao, to bring the fire under control.   
Replying to a question, Gill said that all the household  items including cupboards, furniture and consumer items were gutted in  the blaze. One of the fire engines got stuck in the sand.   
The inmates told the media that they have lost their  valuables including gold ornaments and cash, besides fishing nets in the  inferno. A lady victim told The Goan that she has lost everything in  the fire, including shelter and clothes. Houses gutted in the fire  belonged to Rosalina Rodrigues, Minguel Caetano Rodrigues and Joanita  Rodrigues.   
Ex-Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva told the media that the fire  brigade reached the site at around 12.30 am and had no water pump to  pump out water from the local sources. 
“The fire tenders should be  equipped with all equipments to meet any emergencies,” Caitu said, while  appealing to the government to extend help to the beleaguered families  who have lost everything in the inferno.   
Share this