Panaji: The fire is reported to have started between 10.30 pm and 11.40 pm on Wednesday. It began in a car accessories shop near Tilak Maidan and spread to stalls and shops selling garments, utensils and furniture before reaching the municipal New Modern Market.
It was the third fire in the port town in a few hours. A house on the outskirts of Vasco caught fire around 10.30 pm, then a garage where two vehicles were gutted. Minutes later the market was ablaze.
Nine fire tenders were pressed in, two each from Vasco, Margao and Panaji and one each from Verna, Ponda and Old Goa. Narrow access routes and a crush of makeshift stalls slowed the crews, and the blaze was brought under control after more than four hours. Director General of Police Alok Kumar said tenders from the Indian Navy, the Coast Guard, Goa Shipyard Limited and the Mormugao Port Authority were also called in.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reached the site around 12.30 am with MLAs Daji Salkar and Sankalp Amonkar. "I got to know at 11 pm and came here myself. The entire administrative staff is working to bring the fire under control. It has caused significant damage," he said.
"The incident is unfortunate, as vendors who had stocked their shops with essential items for Diwali have suffered major losses," Sawant said, adding that the government would provide financial assistance. More than 150 vendors used to set up stalls in the market, he said.
Most of the affected stalls sold readymade garments. Several traders had built up stock for the festival season and watched it burn. The cause has not been established. A short circuit is suspected.
South Goa Collector and District Magistrate Egna Cleetus issued an order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita prohibiting public entry into the fire-hit New Modern Municipal Market and a 50-metre radius until 1 November. Traders, vendors and customers are covered, and only authorised personnel on essential duty may enter. The order cites the risk of structural collapse, further ignition and unauthorised removal of goods, and directs police to barricade the area.
A joint inspection and damage assessment is scheduled for 11.30 am on Thursday with police, municipal officials, the fire services, the PWD, electrical officials and the Forensic Science Laboratory. Representatives of the market association have been invited. No loss figure has been released.