the goan I network
PANAJI
Unusual for the end of October in Goa, and due to a depression in the Arabian Sea, heavy rains lashed the State on Thursday, leaving fishers unable to go to sea, commuters stuck in rain and traffic, and roads getting flooded with water.
The unusual weather conditions were due to a depression over the Eastcentral Arabian Sea which moved East-northeastwards with a speed of seven kms per hour between 2 pm and 8 pm, Thursday, the Met Department said. It intensified into a deep depression over the Eastcentral Arabian Sea and lay centred at around 5:30 pm about 310 km West-southwest of Ratnagiri (Maharashtra), 450 km southwest of Mumbai (Maharashtra) and 1,790 km Wast-southeast of Salalah (Oman).
The Department further said that it is very likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours (between 8 pm and 8 am, Friday). It is very likely to move East-northeastwards till 25 October evening, and then it is very likely to re-curve and move nearly Westwards towards South Oman and adjoining the Yemen coast with gradual intensification during the subsequent 72 hours.
The good news for Goa is that the depression is moving away from Goa, so rains in the State are likely to be less heavy than those experienced on Thursday, the Department said. As such, the State is off red alert and has been put on orange alert.
However, very heavy rainfall is very likely at one or two places over the districts of Goa on Friday.
Meanwhile, squally wind speeds reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph are very likely to prevail over the Eastcentral Arabian Sea and along and off South Maharashtra, Goa and North Karnataka coasts during the next 24 hours. Strong wind speeds reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph are very likely to prevail along and off north
Maharashtra coast during the next 48 hours.
It is very likely to increase becoming gale force winds, speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph over the Eastcentral Arabian Sea and along and off South Maharashtra “ Goa coasts.
The sea condition is very likely to be rough to very rough over the Eastcentral Arabian Sea and along and off south Maharashtra, Goa and North Karnataka coasts during the next 24 hours. Fishermen and women are advised not to venture into the Eastcentral Arabian Sea and along and off the Maharashtra “ Goa “ Karnataka coasts during the next 48 hours and along and off south Gujarat coast and adjoining the Northeast Arabian on October 25.
People need to be prepared for localised flooding of susceptible informal settlements or roads, low lying areas, localised and short term disruption to municipal services (water, electricity, etc.), increased travel times, minor motor vehicle accidents due to slippery roads, closure of roads crossing low water bridges, localised mudslides and rock falls, weak trees may get uprooted.Uprooted tree cuts off road access
to Verlem, Salgini
SANGUEM: The road to Verlem, Salgini and Tudov in Netravali remained closed on Thursday, after a huge tree fell across the main road at Verlem.
Though there was not much traffic in the village, the lone KTC bus which plies to the village could not make trips today, cutting off road connectivity to villagers in the hilly areas as they could not travel down to neighbouring villages.
The tree was, however, cut by a fire brigade late in the evening.
Meanwhile in another incident, a tree fell across the road at Nunem village, which led to the closure of road and damage to two electricity poles and causing total darkness in the village.
The villagers fear that the power outage could last for the next two days, forcing them to celebrate their Diwali in darkness.
Deputy Sarpanch Abhijit Desai said the tree at Nunem was removed in the evening hours with the help of a fire brigade from Curchorem. Desai also informed that several villagers have suffered losses to their property due to rains and gusty winds in the village.
