the goan I network
MARGAO
Normal life was thrown out of gear around Salcete, including the coastal belt, as the cyclonic winds accompanied by heavy showers uprooted several trees and electric poles, disrupting vehicular traffic and snapping power lines.
Vehicular traffic on the National highway between Margao and Balli was also disrupted at many places with reports of uprooted trees blocking the highway. While most of the uprooted trees had fallen on the roads, around four houses were damaged in separate incidents.
Even as firemen responded to the rescue operations with their back to their wall, people rose to the occasion at many placed to supplement the efforts of the fire brigade by lifting away uprooted trees that crashed on the roads and overhead power lines.
The coastal belt around Cavelossim-Mobor, bore the brunt of the gusty winds as several uprooted trees brought down electric poles, triggering power outages since the wee hours of Friday. While the power supply was restored in some areas by noon, many parts of the tourist village went without power supply till late Friday evening.
Sarpanch Dennis Dias informed that the panchayat arranged a couple of labourers to lift away the uprooted trees and pave way for the power men to restore power supply.
A number of trees had come crashing down on the National highway at Balli, near the Cuncolim police station, Demani, Panzorconne, Dramapur and right up to the city, disrupting movement of vehicular traffic.
A fire tender was dispatched on the National highway with a brief to clear the road for traffic and also attend to similar incidents in areas such as Velim, Chinchinim and other places.
Margao city and other many parts of Salcete countryside also witnessed water-logging on the roads, disrupting movement of traffic. The area around the Margao Municipal square, besides the KTC road were all inundated with the rain water.
Margao fire brigade personnel informed that the fire brigade started receiving calls for the rescue mission since Thursday night following strong winds. Till Friday evening, the Margao fire brigade had receive over 30 rescue calls.
To the misfortune of the fire personnel, the Margao Municipal Council had already withdrawn the daily wage labourers placed at their disposal every monsoon, leaving the beleaguered firemen with no option than to be on their toes in the rescue mission.
Fire Officer Gill Souza said the fire brigade roped in a private contractor to undertake cutting of huge trees to supplement the efforts of the fire personnel given the magnitude of the problem.
