PANAJI
The State Disaster Management Authority stepped in on Thursday to sound an alert after the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast "extremely heavy rainfall" over Goa on Friday and very heavy showers on Saturday and Sunday.
"A red alert has been issued for July 8 (Friday)," a government release said.
The government has also declared a two-day holiday on Friday and Saturday for students of all schools in the State studying in classes I to VIII.
Meanwhile, the SDMA has alerted all the different arms of its on-field machinery to activate to full alert and to take precautionary action to tackle any situation arising from the expected very heavy rainfall.
Citizens have also been notified to take precautionary measures and avoid halting around weak trees and structures or in areas where the terrain is susceptible to landslides or rocks falling.
Vehicle users are cautioned to avoid driving into flooded areas and to avoid regions which are known to often face waterlogging problems, the government release said, adding that necessary precaution has to be exercised while dealing with electric power.
The SDMA has also set up control rooms at the district level as well as at every taluka.
Govt has also directed various departments to prepare evacuation plan for implementation especially for identified low lying and vulnerable areas.
Required facilities such as hospitals, ambulances, rescue shelters and cyclone shelters, agencies and NGOs for providing immediate relief (food/medicines) should be kept ready, states the government order.
