Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: A major fire broke out aboard a cruise vessel anchored at the Brittona jetty in the early hours of Saturday sending shockwaves across the Mandovi River waterfront. The blaze, which erupted under mysterious circumstances, quickly spread throughout the vessel, completely gutting it before fire crews could bring the situation under control.
Eyewitnesses said the fire started around 3 a.m. and rapidly engulfed the boat. As flames intensified, the vessel came loose and began drifting downstream, raising alarm as it moved perilously close to casino ships and other anchored vessels in the busy river channel.
Several onlookers reported hearing loud explosions, believed to have been caused by LPG cylinders stored onboard.
“It was terrifying. The flames were massive, and we could hear at least two or three blasts from the boat while it was burning,” said one local resident who lives near the riverbank.
The situation prompted an immediate response from multiple emergency agencies.
A tow boat was quickly deployed to prevent the burning vessel from colliding with other ships. Emergency teams from the Goa Fire & Emergency Services, along with personnel from the Indian Coast Guard, worked in coordination to tow the boat toward the riverbank and bring the flames under control.
Despite their swift efforts, by the time the fire was extinguished, the entire cruise boat had been consumed by the blaze. Firefighters remained at the scene for several hours, ensuring the fire was completely doused and monitoring the area for any secondary hazards.
Preliminary reports from the Fire Department confirmed that there were no injuries or casualties. It remains unclear whether the boat was occupied at the time the fire broke out.
Officials suspect a short circuit or a gas leak could have triggered the incident, but an official cause will be confirmed only after a detailed investigation.
Authorities have launched a probe to determine the source of the fire and assess whether safety protocols were followed.
The incident has once again raised concerns over fire safety standards and the storage of flammable materials aboard vessels operating in Goa’s inland waterways.
The charred remains of the vessel are now under the custody of maritime authorities, who are expected to conduct a thorough inspection.
Locals and riverfront business owners have urged the government to step up safety checks on all operational vessels, particularly those used for tourism and entertainment purposes.
