The heavy rains that battered Goa on Tuesday brought the mercury down but left large parts of the State drenched throwing normal life out of gear. The rains have not only exposed the lack of preparedness but also the callousness. With a drastic change in climate patterns, authorities should have geared themselves up to face an early onslaught rather than waltz till the fag end of May. The sudden deluge revealed stark deficiencies in the state’s preparedness, infrastructure, and disaster management strategies.
In Panaji, the infrastructure showed resilience and that's a positive sign. The downside is Miramar Circle, a traditional flashpoint for waterlogging, continued to a trouble spot. The city’s drainage system appeared to have performed reasonably well, with water draining off relatively swiftly, preventing widespread flooding, although it remains to be seen how the city holds up as the State heads into the season.
In stark contrast, rural areas and certain towns faced the full fury of the deluge. Mapusa, Khorlim, and other parts of Bardez were in disarray as vehicles were swept away, roads rendered impassable, and water inundated homes and businesses. The video of a rider being swept away by the forceful current at Khorlim became a stark symbol of the state we are in. Several areas in Salcete including the Margao Municipal square and the area outside the South Goa district hospital were inundated by waters.
One of the most glaring issues is the lack of adequate pre-monsoon preparations. Despite repeated weather warnings and known risk factors, many areas were caught off guard. The flooding in Mapusa’s busy market, the inundation of low-lying neighbourhoods, and the chaos caused by flooded roads point to systemic neglect. The failure to clear nullahs and desilt stormwater channels, especially in areas like Mapusa, is a critical lapse. It underlines the broader issue of pushing monsoon preparatory work towards the very end of May leaving vast areas vulnerable.
Adding to the chaos was the blatant flouting of orders not to dig roads during the monsoon season. Several roads dug up by the Public Works Department (PWD) were left with loose soil and debris, creating perfect conditions for water to seep into homes and block drainage. The ongoing desilting works, which officials say will take over two weeks to complete, is yet another sign of faulty planning.
The flooding across the State once again raises critical questions about the efficiency of disaster management and infrastructure. We often speak of the failure of disaster management, and rightly so. Citizens have reconciled to the fact that there is no help that could come by, except for the fire brigade whose personnel have been foot soldiers in cases of emergencies. Emergencies need quick response protocols to be activated.
Goa must learn from this first hit. Authorities need to prioritize early action on desilting, repairing drainage, enforcing restrictions on road digging during the rains, and ensuring that emergency response systems are in place. The chaos witnessed across the State should serve as a wake-up call to invest in resilient infrastructure and robust disaster preparedness plans. The wet spell should bode well for the State to cover the gaps before the monsoon season takes over. The state must move beyond reactive measures and focus on timely and effective action so that we can mitigate the adverse impacts of increasingly unpredictable monsoon patterns.
