MAPUSA
Heavy rain showers, accompanied by thunder, lightning and strong winds, caused widespread damage across Bardez late Monday evening, bringing down dozens of trees and plunging several areas into darkness as power lines were damaged.
The sudden downpour, which caught many by surprise, led to multiple tree-fall incidents in various parts of the taluka, including Aldona, Corjuem, Ucassaim, Nachinola, Moira, Mapusa, Guirim, and Verla-Canca.
The severe weather conditions not only blocked roads but also snapped power lines, leaving many areas without electricity through the night.
The Mapusa Fire Station was inundated with calls as fire and emergency teams were dispatched to different locations to clear fallen trees and restore access to blocked roads.
Fire officials reported receiving dozens of distress calls, keeping their teams on high alert throughout the evening and well into the night.
"We’ve been responding to calls non-stop since the storm hit," said an official from the Mapusa Fire Station.
"Our teams have been working across Bardez to remove fallen trees and clear blocked roads,” he added.
One of the worst-hit areas was the Aldona constituency, where at least seven tree-fall incidents were reported.
A large mango tree came crashing down on electrical wires and onto the road, disrupting traffic and causing power outages in the surrounding area.
Fire crews worked quickly to remove the debris and ensure the road was safe for commuters.
In Corjuem, another tree fell near the bridge, blocking access and causing similar issues with the power supply.
The nearby Aldona market also witnessed a tree fall, while another incident was reported in Corjuem where a tree crashed onto a house.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident, though there was significant damage to property.
Beyond Aldona, tree-fall incidents were also reported in Ucassaim, Nachinola, and Moira, causing significant disruption.
Fallen trees in these areas not only blocked key roads but also downed power lines, leaving large parts of these villages without electricity.
Fire and electricity department officials were deployed to restore power, but outages persisted into the night as repair teams struggled with the widespread damage.
Similar incidents were reported from Mapusa, Guirim, and Verla-Canca, further adding to the chaos.
