Fire destroys home preparing for wedding at Nanoda, fire services pegs loss at 5 lakh

Mapua/Bicholim: A devastating fire destroyed the residence of Umesh Kandolkar in Bamanwada, Nanoda on Wednesday, causing extensive damage to wedding preparations including cash, gold ornaments, and new clothes.

The family estimates losses exceeding Rs 10 lakh, while fire services initially assessed damages at Rs 5 lakh.

The incident occurred while the house was empty, with the owner leaving at 8.30am and his wife and daughter departing at 7.30am to visit a sick relative in the hospital. Kandolkar was informed about the fire in the afternoon.The homeowner suspects foul play, noting that the back door was found open despite being locked when the family left in the morning.“Before leaving the house, I had even put off the lamp of the deity before,” he said.“Besides property, the fire destroyed Rs 2.5 lakh in cash, which had been borrowed from a women’s self-help group to purchase ornaments for the wedding,” Kandolkar said.Fire services received the alert around 2.30pm. According to fire officials, the blaze originated in the kitchen before spreading to the living room, damaging the TV, refrigerator, wooden cupboard, electrical wiring, electronic items, and the roof.Local MLA Chandrakant Shetye and police officials visited the site to assess the damage.Fire tenders managed to prevent the flames from destroying the entire structure, though the interior was severely damaged.