PANJIM: Rains accompanied by thunder and lightning continued to lash the State on Friday.
After experiencing a deficit rainfall since August, the precipitation has heightened since Tuesday and affected the Ganesh Chaturthi activities in the State. Fire personnel were kept on their toes with several calls of trees falling on houses and roads. While some farmers were all smiles as the rain gave a new lease of life to their withering crops, others whose rice crop which was ready for harvest began to feel the pain of the rain as their standing crop was battered by the incessant downpour.
On Thursday, after a long hiatus, the State experienced heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms. The capital city of Panjim experienced a deluge as it recorded the highest rainfall measuring 2.9 inches from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Similarly, Mormugao received 1.27 inches of rainfall between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm.
However, on Friday, Panjim received 3.6 inches of rainfall during the past 24 hours recorded at 8:30 pm while Mormugao received 1.5 inches of rainfall during the same period.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) office, Sanquelim 2.3 inches of rainfall, Ponda 1.9 inches, Mapusa 1.5 inches, Pernem 1.1 inches, Ela (Old Goa) and Canacona 0.7 inches each and Sanguem 0.3 inches of rainfall during the same period. The State received 4.4 inches of average rainfall as against 2.7 inches of rainfall during the period of September 14 to 20, 2023, marking an excess of 1.6 inches of rainfall.
Meanwhile, Dr Rajasree V P M, Scientist and IMD Goa in-charge, said reduced rainfall activity was likely to continue over northwest and adjoining west-central India during next five days.
