Team Herald
MARGAO: A lightning strike on the historic Holy Spirit Church in Margao has caused extensive damage to the 460-year-old heritage structure, as well as to CCTV cameras, electrical equipment, and office supplies. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Church officials stated that while a full assessment of the damage is still pending, the losses appear to be significant. The lightning caused debris to fall, damaging two scooters parked nearby. The falling debris also entered the church office, where it destroyed a computer, fan, and lights.
Vincent Colaco, a member of the church committee, reported that the church’s residential CCTV system was also heavily impacted, with damage to the monitor, DVR, stabiliser, amplifier, and mixer, leading to considerable financial loss. The Holy Spirit Church is a key heritage site in Margao, and the community is concerned about the repairs needed to restore the structure to its original condition.
Margao lashed by storm: Four injured in house wall collapse, multiple incidents of falling trees
Team Herald
MARGAO: Intense rains accompanied by thunder and lightning wreaked havoc across Salcete on Tuesday, leaving four individuals injured and causing significant property damage. A house wall collapsed in Khareband, Margao, injuring four members of the Chavan family, including two minors. All have been admitted to the hospital, with one, Khemchand Chavan, 30, currently under observation in the ICU.
Gil Souza, the Station Fire Officer in Margao, said that the other injured occupants of the house were Ranjit Chavan, 14, Trivedi Chavan, 24, and Sitaram Chavan, 14. A fire brigade team led by firefighter P P Dessai was dispatched to the site after receiving the emergency call late at night. However, by the time they arrived, locals had already transported the family to the hospital. While the extent of property loss is still being assessed, the cause of the wall’s collapse remains under investigation.
In a separate incident, a tree fell on a house near Ram Mandir at Aquem Alto. Though the branches were cleared, the tree remains lodged on the house, and residents have been advised to consult a professional tree cutter.
Additionally, multiple reports of fallen trees caused disruptions across Margao and Fatorda. Trees collapsed near Margao Central Fast Food at Ambaji, Victor Bar at Agalli and Vishal Wines at Amrutnagar-Gogol, with fire personnel working swiftly to clear the roads. R S Khutkar led efforts to clear these obstructions, taking over an hour in some instances. A house in Aquem was also struck by lightning, causing damage.
The heavy rains triggered waterlogging in several areas, including Ramnagari, Chandor, Curtorim, Borda Road, near the bridge in Colva, and Arlem Circle. Over the last 24 hours, fire personnel have worked tirelessly to clear fallen trees and restore traffic flow.
Mangor building struck by lightning, residents report heavy losses
VASCO: Lightning hit a residential building in Mangor, Vasco, on Tuesday evening. No casualties were reported, but the shaken residents faced substantial losses, with lifts, generator sets, and numerous household electronic items—including TVs, air conditioners, and refrigerators—suffering damage.
The Vasco fire station team swiftly arrived on the scene to check on the safety of the residents. Vasco MLA Krishna ‘Daji’ Salkar, Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Girish Borker, and Mamlatdar Pranvijay Pandit conducted a joint site inspection to assess the damage and explore compensation options for the affected families.
Speaking to reporters, MLA Salkar noted, “Lightning struck the building, hitting the corner of the terrace and causing a small portion of the concrete to fall. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but many residents have suffered significant losses to their electrical appliances. We are assessing the damage and looking into potential compensation under disaster management, as well as exploring aid through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.”
“Around 8.30 pm, during the heavy rain, a lightning strike hit our terrace. The lifts and generators were damaged, and many electrical appliances, like fans, inverters, ACs, and TVs, were destroyed. A nearby tree was also hit and caught fire, causing minor damage to parked car,” said a resident.
Five Dabolim-bound flights diverted due to bad weather