the goan I network
PERNEM
A pilgrimage to the Divine Retreat Centre in Muringoor-Potta, Kerala, has turned into an ordeal for about 200 Goans from Pernem taluka and other parts of the State, who have been stranded with little food and water in one of the flood-affected areas.
Speaking to The Goan, Albert D’Sousa of Junaswaddo-Mandrem said his wife, Sandra, and nine others from Mandrem and Ashwem were among the 200 people from different parts of Goa who had left on August 10 by the Mangala Express and reached the Retreat Centre at Potta on August 11.
“They were staying on the first floor of the retreat house. When they had arrived in Potta, there was no rain. However on Monday, it started raining, but there had been no cause for concern,” said D’Souza, recalling his conversations with his wife, who along with others have been stranded in the retreat centre.
“There was little rainwater accumulated in the campus on Wednesday evening, but the rainwater rose to knee-deep level at about 8 am on Thursday. By about 11 am, it rapidly rose to waist deep and by about 1 pm, reached almost 5-6 feet deep, making it impossible to go on the ground floor,” said D’Souza.
D’Souza said the staff at the retreat house managed to provide some bare minimum food to the stranded people in the afternoon and at night.
“On Friday morning, Sandra was weeping during her phone call to me and said people were screaming on the terrace in a desperate bid to seek help and assistance,” said D’Souza.
“I then made frantic calls to all relatives, friends and prayer groups in Goa and Mumbai appealing for prayers for the safety of my wife and others stranded in Potta,” said D’Souza.
“At about 10.15 am on Friday, Sandra called me to say the rains had stopped and there was some sunshine. By about 12 noon, she said the rainwater was receding,” he added. However, his wife and others had to go without food and water throughout the day.
“Later in the evening, Sandra told me that the army had managed to distribute some food packets and water to the stranded people,” said D’Souza.
D’Souza had also sought the help of local businessman Jeet Arolkar and Arolkar, in turn, contacted some of his friends in the Navy and Army, requesting them to help the stranded Goan families at Potta.
“They have assured Arolkar that help would be given to the stranded Goan families by providing them with food and water through helicopters. Arolkar is also leaving for Bangalore on Saturday to offer whatever assistance
possible.”
“My wife was due to return on Friday, but given the situation, we hope and pray that she and other Goans can be evacuated from Potta on Saturday, so that they can return home safely,” he added.
