Panaji: A devastating fire swept through the main market in Goa’s port town of Vasco late Wednesday night, destroying more than 150 shops and causing extensive property damage. The blaze erupted around midnight and rapidly spread across the crowded marketplace, reducing shops and their merchandise to ashes before firefighters could bring it under control. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited the affected area along with local legislators and officials to assess the situation and meet the traders who suffered heavy losses.

The Chief Minister described the incident as deeply unfortunate, noting that many shopkeepers had stocked large quantities of goods in preparation for the Diwali festival. He assured the affected vendors that the state government would provide financial assistance to help them recover from the losses. Officials said the exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined and a detailed investigation has been launched. Firefighters battled the flames for more than four hours before successfully containing the blaze and preventing it from spreading to nearby areas.

Eyewitnesses claimed that three separate fire incidents occurred in Vasco within a short period on the same night. The first reportedly broke out at a house on the outskirts of the town, followed by another at a garage where two vehicles were destroyed. Minutes later, the massive market fire erupted, prompting shopkeepers to rush in and salvage whatever stock they could. According to Director General of Police Alok Kumar, fire tenders from the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Goa Shipyard Limited, Mormugao Port Authority, and other agencies joined the operation, helping emergency teams bring the massive blaze under control.