MAPUSA: In a tragic incident at Colvale, eight huts belonging to labourers, involved in sand extraction, were gutted in fire, rendering eight families homeless.
The loss due to the fire is pegged at Rs 6 lakh.
Household items, important documents like ration cards and Aadhar cards, besides cash and three motorbikes were destroyed in the blaze.
According to sources, the incident took place at Khazanwado, Colvale at around 1.30 a.m. on Monday morning. The fire suddenly broke out and began to spread. All eight huts were attached to each other.
The fire which started in two huts, which were closed, spread to the other huts, the sources added.
Soon, the occupants moved out of their huts and tried to douse the flames by throwing water.
Mapusa fire station was informed about the incident, and a team led by sub-officer Shivaji Naik and others rushed to the site with fire tenders.
The huts which were destroyed due to fire belonged to Shekhar Pujari, Damiya Lamani, Jaganath Pujari, Shankar Chavan, Jamuna Lamani, Kumar Rathod and Venkatesh Lamani.
The cause of fire is not known as yet. Colvale sarpanch Amita Naik along with deputy sarpanch Jagannath Chodankar and local panch member Babani Salagaokar visited the site and assured the affected families of compensation.
The local panch member offered a financial assistance of Rs 10,000.
The president of All Goa Bhanjara Association Anand Angadi visited the victims in the evening and extended his support to them in approaching the Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar for seeking financial assistance.