Team Herald
BICHOLIM: Heavy rains lashed Sankhali, Bicholim and most parts of Sattari taluka all thought the day, throwing normal life out of gear. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded six inches rainfall during the last 24 hours in Bicholim and Sattari talukas.
Roads at Sankhali and Bicholim were inundated causing hardship to commuters. Water levels across several rivers were increased due to incessant rain. Moderate to heavy rain was witness all across the State.
As water level in the Valvanti river increased to over six metres, the Water Resources Department (WRD) engineers started pumping out water. The water level in the Bicholim river too increased up to five metres. Most roads were waterlogged and vehicles were seen moving at a snail’s place.
The rains somewhat dampened the spirit of people ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi. The Bicholim market wore a deserted look as people stayed indoors and avoided travel. The State Disaster Management Authority has been activated and deployed in Bicholim taluka.
Incidentally, three women were stranded on bridge across Ragada river at Sacorda. With water rising on both sides of the bridge the women were left stranded. Fire and emergency services personnel later rescued them. The fire and emergency services were kept busy throughout the day attending many calls of trees fallings mostly on the roads. A minor landslide was also reported at Chorla Ghat.
The IMD, Altinho, had issued a Nowcast specifying Orange alert for the State on Monday and yellow alert for three days i.e. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. “Moderate (5-15 mm/hr) spells of rainfall with strong surface winds gusting upto 30-40 kmph is very likely to continue at many places (>75% area) over North Goa and South Goa during next one to three hours”, the IMD Nowcast stated.