Goa, June 17 -- A long-overdue inspection of firefighting equipment at the Panjim municipal market has revealed a complete breakdown of critical safety systems, raising serious concerns over public safety in one of the city's busiest commercial hubs.

An estimated 7,000 people visit the Panjim market daily and the compromised state of fire safety apparatus like fire pump, hydrants, smoke extractors, and hoses means that the thousands of shoppers would be at God's mercy if a fire broke out at the market.

However, Monday morning's inspection - jointly conducted by the Fire Department and the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) - has confirmed that the fire safety infrastructure at the market has not been maintained or tested for eight ...