Magisterial inquiry ordered into naphtha fire
PTI, PANAJI | 21 August 2011 21:54 IST
CM inspecting fire sight with minister Jose Philip & others
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat today ordered a magisterial inquiry into the naphtha-ignited flames that continued to threaten two big slum areas in the port town of Vasco, 40 kms away from here.
Kamat visited the site along with Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava this evening, 24 hours after pipeline carrying naphtha caught fire, as the inflammable evaporated and got in touch with a high tension electricity cable on Friday evening.
"Deputy Collector Lavinson Martins will be conducting inquiry into the incident and submit his report within seven days," Kamat told reporters at the site, where state machinery is engaged in the firefighting work.
Kamat also assured rehabilitation of the houses, which are affected due to the fire.
Officials said that first the naphtha pipeline caught fire, which later spread to a water-body situated across the pipeline as the naphtha had run into it.
Five people were injured yesterday and three more were admitted to various hospitals in south Goa today.
The naphtha pipeline had caught fire at a spot, which is next to two major slum areas, inhabited by thousands of people.
District Collector Sandip Jacques said that occupants from around 200 houses were asked to be evacuated on Friday night.
Ashok Menon, Director of Fire and Emergency Services, who was present at the site said that the fire is under control and flames would extinguish once the gas in the pipeline is over.
