PANJIM/PONDA/PORIEM: Monsoon unleashed its fury on Goa, as three persons were killed and one injured when a retaining wall collapsed on the makeshift shanties at Kundaim in Ponda taluka, with heavy rains throwing normal life out of gear.
The three persons who died in the retaining wall collapse at Kundaim have been identified as Dilip Yadav (37) and Mukesh Kumar Singh (38), both natives of Bihar, and Trinath Nayak (48) from Odisha. Ankit Kumar Yadav sustained injuries in the incident. The wall collapse is attributed to loosening of the mud following incessant rains.
There were reports of waterlogging and uprooting of trees causing widespread damage to property across the State as several vehicles were submerged due incessant rainfall. Many electricity poles were uprooted and damaged due to falling of trees mostly in remote areas.
A major landslide was reported at Conem-Priol on the Ponda-Panjim highway thereby blocking traffic movement in both directions. The traffic was diverted via Farmagudi and Conem-Priol internal roads for some time till the highway was cleared for traffic.
A major tragedy was averted when 150 picnickers, who had come to spend their joyful moments in nature’s lap at Sattari, were stranded at Pali waterfall in Thane-Sattari, on Sunday, due to sudden rise in water levels.
On receiving information, personnel from fire services, forest department and Valpoi police station rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. The tourists and picnickers were pulled out from the water with the help of rope and brought through alternative routes.
It is pertinent to note that people are banned from visiting the waterfalls in the State. However, following demand from the public, the safe waterfalls were thrown open.
These waterfalls which have been thrown open to the public too have turned risky due to excess rainfall in Sattari.
Thane-Dongurlim Sarpanch Nilesh Parwar said that all people were rescued in a joint operation by personnel from three departments.
“I thank all the three departments for their timely intervention and helping out the picnickers and trekkers, who were scared and confused due to sudden rise of water,” Parwar said.
SP North Akshat Kaushal, IAS, said that all 150 stranded persons at Pali were rescued with the help of forest, police, and locals of Pali.
He said that policemen were̤ d̤e̤p̤l̤o̤y̤e̤d̤ a̤t̤ S̤i̤r̤s̤a̤i̤m̤ w̤a̤t̤e̤r̤f̤a̤l̤l̤ to stop visitors. Similarly, Bicholim police staff were performing duties at Virdi, Nanora and Bicholim market.
Thousands from across the State and neighbouring States visit Pali waterfall in Sattari taluka, for weekend picnics, but unfortunately, on Sunday they had to face great inconvenience due to rise in water levels at several waterfalls.
At Keri-Goteli, water overflowed from the bridge thereby disrupting traffic for several hours. Blockade was reported at Velus, as the road got submerged and water entered the plantations adjacent to the river at Velus.
In Honda, heavy rains caused the roof of the godown of Civil Supplies Department to be blown away, resulting in loss of lakhs of rupees. The bags of wheat, rice and other food items were destroyed.
There were reports of several houses being damaged and incidents of uprooting of trees following heavy rain and gusty winds. The Mhadei river water levels too increased.
Meanwhile, flood like situation was witnessed at several places in the State with water entering houses at many places. In the capital city of Panjim, areas like Patto and Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) bus terminus were flooded with water entering into some offices located at the prime business locality. Due to the incessant rains, a portion of road caved near District and Sessions Court at Mala, Panjim, forcing the authorities to close the road for vehicular traffic.
A wall collapse blocked the Naibag to Pernem National Highway 66, as traffic was diverted to the old highway road. The incident occurred opposite the highway, where a landslide was reported last month.
According to Fire and Emergency Services, they received 153 calls from the fire stations across the State of which 105 attended and 48 remained.
Several vehicles and houses were damaged and electricity wires snapped following tree uprooting incidents.
Porvorim Station Fire Officer (SFO) D G Pednekar informed that they received four calls of tree uprooting incidents. The trees crashed at Velosa Vaddo at Britona, highland villa (two trees), Porvorim market and Patnekar Colony. The mango tree which fell at Britona was huge and due to it, a car was damaged, Pednekar said.
Calvim-Ponolem road was submerged due to rains near the railway crossing at Mayem. An age-old peepal tree collapsed at Ribandar. However, no casualties were reported. A portion of a road caved in at Mala-Panjim.
An age-old iconic mango tree at Divar, situated on the way from Ribandar ferry point to Divar Island, was uprooted. This tree had featured in several ads and movies, it was informed.
The Old Goa Fire Station received 15 calls of tree falling of which 10 were attended. The Mapusa Fire Station received 11 calls, mostly with regards to tree uprooting incidents. According to the Fire Station, cars were damaged at Tivim and Canca bandh in tree uprooting incidents.
According to IMD Goa, Old Goa received highest 6.4 inches of rainfall followed by Goa State Biodiversity (5.3 inches), Panjim (4.9 inches0, Canacona (2.4 inches), Mormugao (2.3 inches) and Mapusa (1.04 inches) between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm on July 7.
The IMD has issued an orange alert for Monday, July 8, warning heavy to very heavy rainfall at many places with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places with strong winds over North Goa and South Goa districts.
However, it issued a yellow alert for July 9, 10 and 11, 2024.
Selaulim dam overflows from crest; earliest in recent years
The Selaulim Dam began to overflow from its crest through its duckbill spillway at 7 pm, on Sunday.
This is the earliest date that the dam has crossed its full capacity in the past several years. The overflow happened last year as late as July 20 while, in 2022, the dam had crossed its capacity on July 8, in 2021, the spilling over was recorded on July 14 and in 2020, overflow was recorded on July 9.
The overflow phenomenon is likely to last until November, depending on the intensity of rainfall in the areas constituting the dam’s catchment. The Selaulim Dam’s full reservoir level (FRL) is 41.15m, according to the Water Resources Department (WRD).
Schools, higher secondary schools to remain shut today
In view of the incessant rain and alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Goa, predicting heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across the State, and keeping in mind the safety of young children in the schools, the Directorate of Education has declared a holiday for school students and teachers from Class I to XII on Monday, July 8. Director of Education Shailesh Sinai Zingde said that the holiday is for the students as well as the teachers and non-teaching staff. ”However, the teachers deputed for training will have to report for training,” states the circular issued by the DoE in this regard. The circular has also advised students to stay indoors and avoid venturing into risky areas.
Mopa airport roof leakage causes waterlogging at taxi counter
The Manohar International Airport at Mopa experienced waterlogging, as water entered the taxi counter due to roof leakage. However, there was no information about the waterlogging at the runway or on the diversion of any flights.
The Tillari irrigation canal was overflowing, while water levels in the Kalna River rose due to which many roads in Chandel, Hasapur and Casarvarnem were submerged.
Visiters banned from entering waterfalls for a week: Rane
Entry to all waterfalls across the State, including those which were earlier announced as low risk waterfalls, has been banned for a week. The ban will continue till such time that the intensity of the rain subsides, informed Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane.