QUEPEM: One of the oldest mud houses in the Xeldem panchayat area was flooded during the first bout of monsoon showers earlier this week, leaving locals apprehensive for the coming months. The situation is of grave concern as this house, and various others, are at risk of collapse if the authorities fail to restore proper rain water drainage in the locality.
House No. 1, belonging to Margaret Pereira, holds historical significance as one of the first and oldest houses in the Xeldem area. It has remained a mud-soil house for several years and is owned by a financially disadvantaged family. According to Pereira, a two-hour bout of rainfall caused the house to flood, with water levels reaching up to one foot. It took around five hours for the water to drain.
Pereira attributed the flooding to the negligence in cleaning the drainage systems. The mud from various infrastructure and digging works conducted by different departments, such as underground cabling by the Electricity department, had accumulated and blocked the drains during the first rainfall.
Amey Chimulkar, a resident of Xeldem, raised concerns about the current state of the cross-drainage system. He stated that the only way to clear the blocked drainage system is by clearing mud and waste accumulated on the streets.
After rainwater entered their homes, the villagers attempted to contact the authorities but faced difficulties as the landline at the Mamlatdar office was not working, and the disaster office and fire station were not active at the time, as reported by Chimulkar. “No assistance was provided by the authorities. With heavy rainfall expected in the coming weeks, I worry for the safety of my house as well,” he said.
