MARGAO
The Margao fire brigade was on its toes on Sunday after incessant rains and strong winds uprooted trees, blocking roads, damaging houses and vehicles.
Uprooted trees blocked traffic at three places on internal roads at the Aquem area of the city, with one tree landing on a house.
Margao Fire Officer Gill D’Souza told the media that the fire brigade received as many as 11 calls on Sunday, with most calls relating to uprooted trees either blocking roads or landing on houses and vehicles.
He said the fire and rescue team was on the job in the Aquem area of the city to clear traffic. He said a tree fallen on the road at Davorlim has blocked traffic in the area. He further informed that two calls has come the Dramapur area of Salcete relating to uprooted trees fallen on the road.
“We have taken up the work to clear the trees from Aquem area to give relief to traffic. We will attend to the remaining calls after completing the work at Aquem”, he said, that a vehicle was left damage in a tree fall incident at Housing Board.
Margao deputy Collector, M Shabir took stock of the situation after he took a round of the city which had witnessed incidents of trees fallen on roads and houses.
Meanwhlie, Madganvcho Awaaz convenor Prabhav Naik has reminded that he had a letter to the district Collector last year about the dangerous tree branches posing danger. “The Collector had acted swiftly and directed the PWD to trim the branches — but the job was done half-heartedly.
"Where is the monsoon preparedness? Still stuck in a file, waiting for clearance”, Prabhav demanded to know after incidents of collapse of trees in the Aquem area of the city.
