Mapusa Firefighters Save Ox Trapped Between Compound Walls at Koniwada

MAPUSA: An ox trapped for hours between two narrow compound walls near Zarimare Devasthan at Koniwada was safely rescued by the Mapusa Fire Station team on Friday evening. The distress call was received at 20:18 hrs, following which a crew led by Sub Officer Shri Prakash Kannaik rushed to the site. On arrival, firefighters found the animal wedged tightly in a gap barely a foot wide, unable to move or turn.

Locals said the ox may have entered the narrow space while seeking shade and got stuck. Assessing the risk of injury to the animal, the team used hydraulic spreaders and ropes to gently widen the gap without damaging the walls. After nearly 30 minutes of careful operation, the ox was freed, exhausted but unharmed. Firefighters provided water to the animal before it was handed over to locals. Sub Officer Kannaik said quick response and coordination were key. “Spaces like these are tricky. One wrong move can injure the animal or collapse the wall. Our priority was a safe, stress-free rescue,” he noted.

Residents of Koniwada thanked the fire services for their prompt action. The incident highlighted the increasing number of animal rescue calls attended by Goa Fire and Emergency Services, especially in rural pockets.