PANJIM: With extremely heavy rainfall likely to continue for the next 24 hours, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has extended the red alert for Goa till Tuesday.
IMD Goa observatory has urged State Administration to monitor the vulnerable areas for next 48-hours while the residents are directed to take necessary precautions.
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On Monday, the coastal State, which was on red alert, received heavy showers, with IMD recording nearly 35 mm of rainfall till 5.30 pm.
Normal life was thrown out of gear as several parts of State capital remained inundated. Major traffic jams were reported near Panjim KTC bus stand due to ongoing work of the approach roads.
IMD Goa in charge Rahul said that there are three weather systems that are expected to enhance rainfall activity over Goa and that includes a low pressure area over south Jharkhand & neighbourhood, off shore trough at mean sea level from south Maharashtra coast to north Kerala coast and a trough running from eastcentral Arabian Sea to south Konkan at 5.8 km above mean sea level.
He said that extremely heavy rainfall, higher than 204.4 mm in 24 hours is very likely even on Tuesday, with North Goa more vulnerable.
“Heavy to very heavy rainfall (115.6 – 204.4 mm of rainfall in 24 hours) is very likely with scattered distribution on June 16,” he said.
Rahul said that with increased rainfall activity to continue, areas vulnerable to landslides and flooding may be monitored and precautions taken.
“The people along the ghat areas need to be more alert as there is possibility of flashfloods,” he said.
Rahul said that the wind of speed around 40kmph is likely along with rainfall spells and rough sea conditions. “From June 17, the rainfall activities are likely to decrease slightly,” he said.
Since June 1 till date, State has received 309.3 mm of rainfall, which is slightly below the normal of 315.4mm. So far, June 10 has been the wettest day with 59 mm of rains followed by June 13, that received 55 mm of rainfall.
Meanwhile, Margao witnessed rains but it was not heavy or continuous as predicted by the Meteorological Department of India which had in fact issued a red alert for Goa.
In the morning there were showers off and on but in the afternoon there were not much showers though the sky was cloudy and gloomy.
