Goa, May 9 -- A half-dry banyan tree believed to be more than 100 years old caught fire late at night along the Mapusa-Siolim route in Goa.

The incident came to light at around 3 am when a local resident travelling from Mapusa to Siolim noticed flames emerging from the massive tree.

The resident immediately alerted the Mapusa Fire Station and also informed his friend, Siolim-Marna panch member William Fernandes.

Following the alert, the panch member and fire personnel rushed to the spot and managed to bring the blaze under control before it could spread further.

Officials said the timely response helped prevent major damage to the historic banyan tree, which is considered a longstanding landmark in the area.

The exact cause of the fi...