Heavy rain and gusty winds disrupted traffic on the Goa–Belagavi National Highway on Sunday morning after three large trees collapsed at different locations near Anjunem Dam in the Chorla Ghat stretch, bringing vehicular movement to a standstill for nearly two hours.
The incident, which occurred at around 9 am, left hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway, causing major inconvenience to commuters, tourists and transport operators travelling between Goa and Belagavi. Long queues of vehicles formed as motorists waited for the road to be cleared.
According to officials, strong winds accompanying the intensified monsoon triggered the tree falls, completely blocking the highway. Some travellers initially attempted to clear the obstruction, but the size of the fallen trees made the task impossible.
On receiving the alert, personnel from the Valpoi Fire and Emergency Services rushed to the spot and launched a clearance operation despite persistent rain and difficult weather conditions. Using chainsaws and other equipment, firefighters removed the trees and reopened the highway after nearly two hours of sustained efforts.
Traffic Police also reached the site and regulated vehicular movement while ensuring public safety. Once the road was cleared, stranded vehicles were released in phases, helping restore normal traffic flow.
The disruption came on a busy Sunday, with many Goa residents travelling to Belagavi for shopping, medical appointments and other personal work, while several vehicles from Karnataka were headed towards Goa. Families, senior citizens, women and children were among those stranded for an extended period.
Motorists expressed appreciation for the swift response of the Valpoi Fire Brigade, whose timely intervention prevented the situation from worsening.
The Chorla Ghat stretch is regarded as one of the most vulnerable routes during the monsoon because of heavy rainfall, dense fog, slippery roads, sharp bends and strong winds. Tree falls and minor landslides are common during this season, prompting authorities to advise motorists to drive cautiously, maintain safe distances between vehicles and check weather conditions before undertaking the journey.
Meanwhile, local residents claimed that unlike previous years, pre-monsoon surveys to identify and remove hazardous roadside trees had not been carried out effectively this year, increasing the risk of such incidents during the ongoing rainy season.
Residents and regular commuters have urged the authorities to immediately identify and remove dangerous trees along the highway, strengthen round-the-clock emergency preparedness, install warning signboards at vulnerable locations and enhance highway patrolling during the monsoon.
Officials said the coordinated efforts of the Valpoi Fire and Emergency Services, Traffic Police and other agencies ensured that no major mishap occurred and traffic was restored within a few hours. Authorities have once again appealed to motorists to remain vigilant while travelling through Chorla Ghat during the monsoon and to avoid unnecessary travel during periods of heavy rainfall.
