Fire damages Old Goa basilica

A part of the 16th century basilica of Bom Jesu, housing the tomb of St Francis Xavier in Old Goa, was damaged in a major fire last night, j...

A part of the 16th century basilica of Bom Jesu, housing the tomb of St Francis Xavier in Old Goa, was damaged in a major fire last night, just weeks before the yearly exposition of the saint’s relics.

According to initial estimates by the fire department, four big rooms in the residential section of the basilica were gutted. The residential section, located just a meter away from the basilica, is said to be older than the Taj Mahal. It was built in 1580-1589. ‘‘Though preliminary investigations indicate that the fire was caused by a short circuit, we have ordered an inquiry,’’ said Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

The spokesman for the church, Olavo Velho Pereira, said that some precious books and records were destroyed. ‘‘They were precious, I cant put a value to them,’’ he said.

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Police chief Amodh Kanth told The Indian Express that the fire broke out around 1.30 am and a ‘‘major mishap’’ was averted as the police and fire brigade officials reached the spot immediately. ‘‘The fire broke out in the interior part of the building so there is no suspicion of any kind of sabotage,’’ Amodh Kanth said.

The government has, however, appointed a probe committee consisting of the PWD and electricity engineers and the SP (north). The site of yesterday’s fire was only a meter away from the main church, which contains the tomb of St Francis Xavier who, in 1541, was given the task of spreading Christianity among Portuguese colonies in the east.

Congress spokesman Jeetendra Deshprabhu said the government should probe whether there was any connection between the fire and Togadia’s recent statements against minorities.