Team Goemkarponn
Mopa: The high-octane Goa Street Race at the Manohar International Airport faced an unexpected interruption on Sunday afternoon after a fire broke out close to the racing circuit, prompting officials to pause the event as a precaution.
The incident occurred at around 2 pm near the temporary street track prepared for the Formula 4 Indian Championship within the airport premises. Thick smoke quickly spread across parts of the venue, causing concern among spectators and race teams and leading organisers to suspend proceedings for several hours.
Fire department officials later stated that the blaze originated from dry grass in the vicinity, which caught fire and spread rapidly due to gusty winds. Teams from the Pernem Fire Station, supported by personnel from other units, responded immediately after receiving the alert and managed to contain the flames before they could cause major damage.
The firefighting operation was led by Fire Officer Namdev Pawar. Firefighters from Pernem were assisted by crews from Mapusa and Pilerne fire stations in bringing the situation under control.
Authorities confirmed that there were no injuries reported and no substantial damage to race infrastructure or equipment. The precise cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and further inquiries are underway.
