Fire guts Dawood Chawl at Margao

Margao: A fire broke out at Dawood Chawl in Khareband, Margao, around 2.45pm on Wednesday, causing extensive property damage.

According to eyewitnesses, the fire spread rapidly through the three-storey structure containing 75 rooms, in which nearly 100 people resided. However, the building’s top floor from where the fire emanated was unoccupied. Margao fire station received the distress call at 2.45pm and sent four fire tenders.

“We heard screams and saw smoke rising. Within minutes, flames engulfed a major portion of the chawl,” said a local who helped evacuate occupants. “We first evacuated the children, then removed as many LPG cylinders, before the flames intensified.”

Fire services station officer Gill Souza said it took nearly three-and-a-half hours to control the blaze. “The congested area made access challenging, but we managed to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby structures,” he said.

Souza said the timber roof was completely gutted and the brick walls were unstable, but the cause of the fire was unknown. Govt officials visited the site to assess damage and arrange temporary shelter for affected residents.