http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=012415
Fire in Margao's new market engulfs 6 shops NT News Service Margao Jan 23: A major fire, that broke out in the wee hours of the day at Margao's new market, engulfed six shops, causing extensive damage estimated to be around Rs 70 lakh and causing minor injuries to the station fire officer. According to the assistant district fire officer, Mr Ashok Menon, the district fire station at Margao received a call informing about the fire at around 2.30 a.m. The fire and emergency services personnel immediately got into action and rushed two fire tenders to the new market. Gauging the situation, simultaneously two other tenders were requisitioned from the Curchorem and Verna fire stations. The fire tenders made 16 trips in all trying to control the blaze. The station fire officer, Mr B Volvoikar, who carried out the operation along with assistant station fire officer, Mr Gill Souza sustained minor injuries to his eye. He was later admitted to Hospicio Hospital. Mr Menon personally monitored the entire operation that lasted for over two hours. The operation comprised 16 personnel. The director of fire and emergency services, Dr P K John visited the site. The firemen managed to prevent the fire from spreading to adjoining shops and it was contained within the six shops. Three of the shops dealing in nylon and coir ropes, China-made goods and general merchants were completely gutted. Initially, short circuit was suspected to the cause, but after preliminary inspection it was found that it was not so. It is also learnt that some welding works were being carried out till late night in one of the six shops. Mr Menon disclosed that a major reason for the intensity of the fire was the heat that was retained. Materials like plastic were stored in some of the shops, it is learnt. Incidentally, in 1999, a similar fire had engulfed over 16 shops (including the six shops gutted today) in the market. Today, despite the earlier incident, authorities reportedly found it difficult to move inside the complex as it was congested with a lot of goods placed in open areas. The shops gutted in today's fire belonged to Mr Narayan Godge, Mr Gurudas Borker, Mr D V Godge, Mr H S S Amonkar, Mr Amika Ahmed and Mr Atik Bandukda. -- May your God be with you. Gabe Menezes. London, England