MAPUSA: A major fire broke out at an illegal scrapyard located at Murshiwaddo, Colvale, on Wednesday morning. While the blaze was reported at 10 am, the staff of the Mapusa fire station struggled to control it and spent the whole day at the spot to ensure that the fire was doused completely.
According to sources, the illegal scrap yard was operational even after the Colvale panchayat had demolished it. The cause of the fire is suspected to be a spark produced while carrying out welding work at the site.
Sources said that one person sustained minor injuries in the fire. A worker identified as Yasim Ansari, a resident of Colvale, sustained burn injuries and is presently undergoing medical treatment at GMC, Bambolim. The fire, which began in one scrap yard further spread to another scrap yard located next to it. The blaze also damaged a few of the surrounding houses. Fire tenders from Mapusa as well as the headquarters were pressed into service. Meanwhile, the Colvale police have registered an offence against Rizwan Khan, the owner of the scrap yard styled as ‘Rizwan Plastic Industries’ and Irfan Rizwan Khan, caretaker of the scrapyard, both residents of Duler, Mapusa, for negligently storing empty chemical drums in the premises without taking proper precautions, endangering the lives and safety of the workers at the said scrap yard. The offence is registered under Sections 285, 337 r/w 34 of the IPC.