Four Goa fire victims to be airlifted to Mumbai for treatment

Panaji, Aug 25: After the death of two persons, who sustained burn injuries in a fire mishap in Goa, the state government has decided to air lift remaining four victims to Mumbai for specialised treatment.

Police confirmed the death of a 21-year-old vendor and a 15-year-old student in the blaze at a pipeline carrying naphtha to a fertilizer manufacturing unit in the port town of Vasco, 40 kms from here.

"Considering the casualities, the state government has decided to airlift remaining four victims to Mumbai," a senior police officer said.

All the four were being treated at Goa Medical College and Hospital near here.

The mishap occurred on Friday, apparently after the pipeline punctured and the naphtha caught fire after coming in contact with a overhead high tension electricity wire.

Police have already registered case against a contractor employed by National highway authority of India and Zuari Industries Limited, which was carrying naphtha as its feedstock. The fire continued for next four days before it was finally put down on Monday.

Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat today declared a compensation of Rs 1 lakh for the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 for those who were burnt.

State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has already suspended the pipeline till further orders. District Magistrate Sandip Jacques said the pipeline would not be started till officials from Indian Institute of Explosives, Nagpur, arrive and certify its safety.

PTI