Part of Bambolim plateau scorched

Panaji: A ravaging fire devastated a wide area of the Bambolim plateau, scorching trees and other flora and fauna, as the firemen struggled to douse it due to lack of access.The fire started on the Siridao border and spread over the plateau towards the north, close to NH 66 at Bambolim, and subsequently down towards the village spring.Fire services received a call at around 1pm and rushed to the site. However, due to a lack of access, the firefighters had to station themselves next to a housing society and began tackling the blaze from that end.After the Taleigao field fire, this was another major fire on Saturday that spread across a large area, causing smoke to billow over an extensive part of the hill and valley.The blaze was finally put out at around 3.20pm, sources said.Fire officials were unable to provide an estimate of the damage, as it was a large area and not accessible due to thick vegetation. The cause of the fire is also difficult to ascertain, though a local resident suspected that it could be deliberate.Fire department sources said that due to the scorching heat, they receive a calls regarding grass fires on a daily basis.