MARGAO: A family in Madel lives in constant fear of their house collapsing due to its weakened mud walls.
They struggle to sleep peacefully, haunted by the imminent threat posed by the deteriorating structure due to heavy rainfall.
Head of the family, Custodio Fernandes, a heart patient, and his wife, who is wheelchair-bound, face a dire situation as their son searches for employment.
This family, which is already burdened by health challenges and financial instability, is struggling to take even basic safety measures to protect themselves from their deteriorating home.
According to Custodio Fernandes, the house is centuries-old and constructed of mud walls, which has weakened over the years due to exposure to rain. This deterioration has caused severe anxiety among the family members, who fear that the house may collapse at any moment.
They are now awaiting assistance from government authorities. They recently met the concerned Talathi and a team from the Public Works Department (PWD) visited their home to assess the situation and potentially provide financial aid.
Speaking to reporters, Carmina Fernandes, the wife of Custodio, expressed her plight, mentioning the family spends sleepless nights fearing the walls could collapse at any moment.
“This house has stood for centuries, but now, due to financial crisis, we cannot afford to carry out the necessary repairs,” she sighed.
“I have been on a wheelchair for the last few months, and my husband is a heart patient," she continued, highlighting their vulnerabilities.
Custodio recalled that two years ago, there was an incident where one of the walls collapsed.
“Our lives are at risk, and we cannot afford the necessary repairs. Due to heavy rains, we've even noticed the floor weakening. We are eagerly awaiting assistance from the government authorities,” he said.