VALPOI
Several parts of Sattari were hit by unseasonal rain and strong winds on Friday evening, disrupting normal life in the taluka.
The areas of Nanoda, Bambar, Kodal and Derode in Nagargao panchayat were particularly affected, with extensive damage reported to agricultural plantations, houses and the electricity infrastructure.
The natural calamity is likely to cause significant financial losses to local farmers and plantation owners. Banana, arecanut and coconut trees were damaged at several locations, while a mango tree fell on a house, causing structural damage.
Fallen trees blocked roads and disrupted traffic. Personnel from the Valpoi Fire and Emergency Services rushed to the affected locations and cleared the fallen trees, restoring traffic.
Over 10 electricity poles were reportedly damaged, resulting in power outages in several areas. The exact extent of the losses is yet to be assessed.
Cloudy conditions prevailed across Sattari taluka from Friday morning, indicating the possibility of rainfall in the evening. Light rain began in some areas at around 3 pm, while Valpoi town and other parts of the taluka experienced heavy rainfall.
Strong winds accompanying the rain caused considerable panic among residents. According to local sources, the storm struck Nanoda, Bambar, Kodal and Derode in Nagargao Panchayat area at around 3.30 pm.
Plantations belonging to Milind Barve, Vishnu Joshi, Prashant Marathe and other farmers in the Nanoda and Bambar areas reportedly suffered damage. Arecanut and coconut trees in the plantations of Milind Barve and Vishnu Joshi were damaged or uprooted, causing financial losses.
Prashant Marathe said that banana and arecanut trees were among the worst affected by the storm. Since the incident occurred in the evening, it was not possible to inspect all the plantations thoroughly in the dark.
Prashant Marathe expressed the expectation that the actual extent of the losses would become clearer after plantation owners inspect their properties on Saturday morning.
A mango tree from a neighbouring property reportedly fell on the house of Sushila Narayangaonkar, causing extensive damage to the roof.
Gusty winds caused five separate instances of tree falls along the Nagargao–Bambar road, bringing traffic to a complete halt. Fallen trees obstructed the route, inconveniencing motorists and local residents and disrupting movement along the road for some time.
A team from the Valpoi Fire and Emergency Services immediately rushed to the spot and removed the fallen trees and cleared the road, enabling traffic to resume.
The strong winds also affected the electricity infrastructure. More than 10 electricity poles were reportedly damaged, causing damage to the power distribution network. As a result, electricity supply was disrupted in several areas, inconveniencing residents. Officials of Valpoi electricity department took note of the situation and initiated repair work.
Agriculture dept to inspect damage
VALPOI: Sattari Zonal Agriculture Officer Vishwanath Gauns said an assessment of the damage in the affected areas would be undertaken on Saturday morning.
“Agriculture department officials will visit the affected locations and inspect the damaged plantations. A report documenting the losses would subsequently be prepared and submitted to the higher authorities,” said Gauns.
He confirmed that strong winds had affected Nanoda, Bambar, Kodal and Derode in Sattari taluka, causing damage to plantations.
“The number of affected farmers, the extent of tree damage and the overall scale of the losses would become clear only after the field inspection,” he said.
