Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Apr 5: Six private beach shacks at Arambol Beach were gutted in a fire in the early hours of Saturday, four months after the deadly blaze at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub that claimed 25 lives.

No casualties were reported in the latest incident, though a few tourists and staff were present when the fire broke out. Preliminary investigations suggest a short circuit may have triggered the blaze.

Jit Arolkar, MLA of Pernem, who was present at the site, said lack of proper road access delayed the arrival of fire tenders. A fire engine attempted to reach via the beach but got stuck in the sand before arriving at the spot.

Firefighters, locals, and shack workers managed to control the blaze using buckets of water, sand, and fire extinguishers sourced from nearby establishments. The operation lasted nearly two hours.

According to fire officials, a minor fire was first reported around 2.15 am, but it escalated by 3 am when employees failed to contain it. Of the six affected shacks, four were operational while two had shut due to LPG supply issues.

Fire officer Prashant Dhargalkar said access constraints hampered firefighting efforts. The blaze was finally doused around 4 am with the help of locals.

The shacks were located close to each other, with some adjoining nearby houses, increasing the risk of spread. Police at Mandrem Police have registered the case as a fire accident.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has ordered a detailed inquiry and directed the North Goa collector to submit a report. He said preventive measures would be strengthened to avoid such incidents.

Director of Fire and Emergency Services Nitin Raiker said the exact cause is yet to be confirmed, though initial findings point to an electrical short circuit. The estimated loss is around ?30 lakh, and officials noted that most of the shacks lacked proper permissions.