TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Rains and cyclonic winds wreaked havoc throughout Salcete on Sunday with several trees crashing and causing damage to public property, private houses and blocking traffic.
There was a scary experience at Vidyanar Borda when a tree crashed onto a garage and smashed the car with Borda resident Rueben D’silva inside who had to break the rear view mirror to climb out. D’silva was reported to be fine but in a state of shock. (Related rain reports on Pg5)
In Margao a tree from the municipal garden crashed on the main road opposite the old Collectorate building blocking traffic while a tree from the District Court compound crashed on to the main road and at Colva, near the police station an electric pole crashed in the middle of the road.
The electric mast at Benaulim beach promenade also crashed while the Margao Fire Brigade received close to 300 calls about trees getting uprooted across Margao. In Curtorim, the villagers had to bear the brunt of power fluctuation and trees crashing while a similar scene was witnessed across Salcete whereas low lying fields were submerged under water.
Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Arthur D’silva said he was monitoring the situation and that the MMC had applied for permissions for tree cutting with the Collectorate.
The disaster management cell at the Collectorate was busy with calls throughout the day especially from MLAs and ministers asking for urgent assistance.
At several places trees had crashed on the compound walls of houses while there were many complaints of rooftops flying apart with the gusty winds.
