PANAJI
Heavy pre-monsoon showers lashed Goa on Tuesday, resulting in water-logging and a flood-like situation in low-lying areas. Goa has been put on Orange alert till Wednesday, with the current situation attributed to upper air cyclonic circulation over Karnataka and adjoining areas.
With heavy to very heavy rainfall over the west coast of Karnataka, Konkan, Goa and Kerala and adjoining Peninsular India till May 26, Goa has been put on Yellow Alert till this period as it witnessed a near-chaotic situation even in urban areas like Mapusa and Panaji.
In parts of Panaji including Miramar, water accumulation brought traffic to a standstill, while sudden road tarring works in Neugi Nagar led to traffic chaos amid rains. Rains brought life to a standstill in Mapusa too with a video of a two-wheeler swept away doing the rounds on social media.
Similar scenes were reported from other parts of the state, as incessant showers accompanied by thunderstorms reduced visibility to near zero at some places. However, the rains brought respite from the heat with maximum temperature recorded at 34°C and minimum at 26°C.
Over a dozen incidents where trees uprooted were also reported on a single day besides a fatal accident in which a linesman was electrocuted.
In separate incidents, four dogs died after falling into a water tank and open wells at three different locations.
By Tuesday evening, IMD recorded the highest 161 mm rainfall in Pernem, followed by 157 mm in Mapusa, 81 mm in Panaji and 75mm in Mormugao. The remote area, which usually witnesses one of the highest rainfall, saw 43 mm rainfall in Valpoi, 43 mm in Sanguem and 40mm in Quepem. The IMD further recorded 30mm rains at Ponda station.
COMMERCIAL CAPITAL
UNDER WATER
Heavy pre-monsoon showers exposed holes in the monsoon preparedness in the commercial capital, with many areas, including the Margao Municipal square and the area outside the South Goa district hospital inundated by waters.
Services in the Margao Municipal Council trade and taxation section also suffered in the morning due to water seepage. Following non-stop overnight showers, rain water not only entered the trade and taxation section from the roof top, but the seepage percolated down to the technical section.
Bundles of files were also being moved from the administrative section which also witnessed water seepage. For want of a gutter facility, water was seen flowing near the flag pole on the first floor of the Municipal building.
MAPUSA REELS
A dramatic scene unfolded on Tuesday as a rider, clinging to his two-wheeler, was swept away by the forceful current of rainwater gushing down a main road at Khorlim in Mapusa.
The image, captured by onlookers, has now become symbolic of the chaos that engulfed Mapusa following a heavy pre-monsoon downpour.
The heavy downpour battered the town and overwhelmed its drainage systems, which residents and activists allege were left uncleared and choked, despite claims of pre-monsoon maintenance.
CANACONA RAVINDRA
BHAVAN INUNDATED
Canacona’s prestigious Ravindra Bhavan turned into a pool of water as pre-monsoon rains flooded the taluka library and damaged several books and furniture.
A Konkani Tiatr ‘Mhojjem Poilem Ghor’ by Seby De Divar scheduled for Tuesday evening was cancelled by organisers on account of the incident.
Rainwater began to leak in the taluka library on the first floor of the Ravindra Bhavan complex, which is located at the rear end of the main auditorium hall, at about 10.30 am, when pre-monsoon showers lashed Canacona taluka.
Library staff were in for a shock as rainwater began seeping from the roof and onto the cupboards, racks, tables and the floor, with water even flowing from the steps below corridors.
