MARGAO/CANACONA: Torrential rains hit several beaches in Salcete even before the IMD’s warning of thunderstorms hit the State. Sea water surged in at Colva, Betalbatim, Varca, Benaulim and Utorda beaches on Monday.
The waves reached right up to the lifeguard tower at Betalbatim beach. However, given that it is off season, the amount of tourists was not as high as compared to the peak season. Water entered the creek in Utorda. The creeks and small rivers too saw the impact of rising waves due to the storm. South Goa Collector held a disaster management meeting on Monday, where instructions were given to closely monitor the situation all over South Goa till June 14 – the days where there has been a warning issued by IMD and in the future.
Meanwhile, fearing rise in sea water level and high waves, fishermen from Canacona taluka have already pulled their fishing crafts to safety.
The warning from Goa MET department to this effect has gone viral in Canacona taluka since Monday afternoon with the message reaching almost all villages in the taluka.
The Talathis of the coastal villages in the taluka have been instructed by the deputy collector and mamlatdar of Canacona to pass on the warning to the fishermen, a source said.
Meanwhile, the entire over thousand Fibres Reinforced Plastic (FRP) boats from Canacona were pulled and positioned to higher grounds by the fishermen by Monday evening.
Also after the warning was issued the South Goa Collector held a meeting with the disaster management officials which included the deputy collector’s and mamlatdar’s of South Goa.
Sources said that on the basis of the Collector’s instructions the Canacona disaster management committee headed by deputy collector Sagun Velip has called an emergency meeting on Tuesday to be attended by the mamlatdar, joint mamlatdar and heads of most of the government departments from Canacona taluka.
The meeting will discuss the preparedness of government machinery in case of any emergency situation arising out of the fallout of the cyclone, sources said.
