the goan I network
MARGAO
Heavy rains and gusty winds claimed the life of a pillion rider as an uprooted tree came crashing down on the motorcycle taxi he was traveling near Costa factory early Monday morning.
Incidents of uprooted trees crashing down on houses and vehicles poured in from Salcete on the second day on Monday, even as many low-lying areas witnessed water-logging following incessant rains since last night.
Margao police informed that the deceased Zaheer Sheikh (43), a resident of Paroda, was travelling on a motorcycle taxi, driven by one Joao Fernandes, a pilot hailing from Ambaulim-Quepem. The duo was heading towards Margao when they were struck by a tree which landed on their two-wheeler at Aquem in the morning.
The duo, who sustained multiple injuries were rushed to the Hospicio hospital. Margao PI Tushar Lotlikar informed that the pillion rider succumbed to his injuries on Monday evening. The motorcycle pilot is still convalescing in the hospital.
In the meantime, the Margao fire brigade received over 12 emergency calls on Monday as incessant rains and gusty winds uprooted several trees in Salcete taluka. Fire brigade officials informed that uprooted trees landed on some houses at Betalbatim and Chandrawado, while a couple of vehicles were also damaged in the incidents.
As many three banyan trees came crashing down on a road at Sirvodem in the jurisdiction of Margao Municipal Council. Fire Officer Gill de Souza, who was personally attending to the calls, said though the fire brigade managed to cut the branches, it would require the support of expert cutters to clear the huge trees.
The operation to clear the trees from the road will resume on Tuesday morning.
Firemen have been literally on their toes since Sunday. If the Margao fire brigade received around 26 calls of tree falls on Sunday, over 12 calls were received on Monday. A fire official informed that the fire personnel had been attending to each of the calls, trying to clear the trees fallen on houses and on the roads.
Many places in the city, including Vishant at Aquem, the Bolshe traffic circle were all waterlogged following incessant and heavy rains from early Monday morning.
Meanwhile, the Margao fire brigade rushed to Betalbatim village late Monday night following a call of a tree fall on a house.
The occupants of the house, including children, feared that the weak wall might collapse under the weight of the tree.
