Monsoon lashes Goa, disrupts traffic

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2009-06-07
PANAJI - Monsoon lashed the state with full fury on Saturday, uprooting trees at various places and blowing away roofs and hoardings, even as cases of water logging were reported from various places. At Corlim, in Tiswadi taluka, there were reports of water gushing into some houses.
The heavy winds were also responsible for drifting of two pontoons to the shore at Caranzalem. The arrival of the two pontoons to the shore, opposite Primos Serene building, coincided with the ninth anniversary of grounding of MV River Princes at Candolim-Sinquerim beach.
The secretary (ports), Dr M Modassir informed that the pontoons were being towed away by a tug to Gujarat but due to bad weather they were released and were now lying at Caranzalem. He further said that there was neither any engine in either of the pontoons nor any oil. He went on to add that the tug towing them away was anchored at sea and as soon as the weather improves the tug would tow them away.
The heavy rains that accompanied gusty winds affected the flow of traffic in the city, leading to minor traffic jams at various places. Water logging was witnessed at different places in the city. There were also reports of roofs being blown away by strong winds that lashed the state together with rains.
The weather office at Altinho recorded 58.3 m.m. of rain over the past 24 hours bringing total rainfall of the season to 78.5 m.m. The weather office has forecast rains with thundershowers with possibility of heavy rains in some areas.
The collector of North Goa, Mr R Mihir Vardhan informed that there were reports of uprooting of tree in Ponda and Bardez taluka that effected flow of traffic. He also said that incidents of water logging were also reported from Ponda taluka. Mr Vardhan further said that disaster management officials were rushed to Corlim in Tiswadi taluka where water was reported to have entered a few houses.
In the last 24 hours, the directorate of Goa fire and emergency services attended various emergency calls and saved property worth lakhs of rupees. A girl, who was trapped in a flat at Alcon Residency at Porvorim was rescued by the fire services.
There were several power supply interruptions in Porvorim, Panaji, San Pedro and Old Goa. A tree uprooted near the KTC bus stand, while a coconut tree fell on the PWD shed in St Inez. Trees also uprooted at various spots of the city like D B Marg, near Dempo House and at Mahalaxmi temple.
In Chimbel, a mango tree came down crashing on a bar and restaurant, while an Ashoka tree uprooted and leaned on a coconut palm at Carmichem Bhat near oHeraldo printing press.