Heavy unseasonal rains and gusty winds played havoc on Sunday in Salcete. It is learnt that cyclonic winds accompanied by thunder and lightning and showers hit Shiroda with trees collapsing on as many as 28 houses with the owners suffering a loss to the tune of Rs 50 lakh and creating panic among the locals. The roofs of several houses were damaged while the sheets on the roofs of some houses were blown away by the cyclonic winds. It may be recalled that a few days back a house was damaged in the lightning strike causing loss to the owners. All these unfortunate incidents due to the heavy rains need to be considered as natural calamities and the people, especially the poor need to be compensated by the government for the loss incurred. The poor will need money to urgently repair their homes which have been damaged. Their belongings like furniture, household equipment may have been destroyed due to tree falls and lightning strikes. It may be recalled that last year the extremely severe tropical cyclonic storm Tauktae caused widespread damage to peoples' homes in the state. The government needs to come to the immediate aid of people affected by cyclonic storms.
