CANACONA
Lightning struck a coconut tree at Colomb-Canacona as thunder showers lashed several parts of Canacona taluka on Tuesday evening.
According to Canacona Fire Services, lightning struck a coconut tree and set the leaves on fire in Colomb area of Canacona municipality at about 3.20 pm. However, a sudden spurt of rains doused the fire, before fire services personnel could reach the site. The fire services said there was no injury to life or damage to other property.
Elsewhere, strong winds blew away plastics in the air, while thunder showers disrupted normal life for well over half an hour.
Incidentally, farmers in the process of harvesting their paddy crop were most affected as rains lashed the interior areas, including Gulem, Chapoli, Devabhaga, Shristhal, Gaondongrim and Khotigao.
Several people on shopping trips to the commercial Chaudi town were caught unawares and were seen running for cover as rains lashed for over half-an-hour.
Two-wheeler riders were forced to stop and seek shelter, with many motorists seen stop under the MPCBR overbridge between Char-Rasta and Chaudi. A few fisherwomen squatting on the roadside to sell fish also ran for cover, after the sudden showers took them by surprise.
According to sources, some areas at Khola and other bordering areas of Canacona had power failure, reportedly after some tree-felling incidents on account of the thunder showers.
While stating that rains are also expected later in the night, a source at the Taluka observatory said Canacona has, so far, received 3458.80 mm of rainfall during the monsoons, which officially ended in September.
