BICHOLIM: Two scooterists had a near brush with death after a major landslide occurred on the newly built Valshi-Vathadev bypass, Bicholim, on Thursday. The duo however were luckily to escape. Police stated that were no casualties but traffic was blocked on one side of the bypass.
This is the third landslide in Goa with two others reported at Malpem and Dhargalim in Pernem last week. Locals said that the hill has been cut vertically and pointed out that they had warned the authorities to inspect the road before throwing it open to public.
The residents stated that they had told the authorities that they do not want a Malpem like landslide to occur in Bicholim, and claimed that no one took them seriously.
Following the landslide, locals demanded that the road be closed and a proper audit be done before throwing it open to vehicular traffic. They stated that seven accidents had already occurred on this road. On getting information, Bicholim MLA Dr Chandrakant Shetye, Mayem MLA Premendra Shet, Bicholim Municipal chairperson Kundan Falari and councillors rushed to the spot.
Dr Shetye said that he had earlier expressed his apprehension over the immediate landslide due to steep cutting of the hill and pulled up the PWD engineers and the contractor for negligence.
Ward councillor Ranjana Vaigankar too said that she had informed the PWD about the possibility of landslide at the spot during monsoon.