Lone Vaxim ferry breaks down,commuters stranded for 4 hours
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
OLD GOA, MAY 24
Residents of Vaxim Island were left stranded for over four hours on Monday afternoon, after the lone ferry boat plying between Amboi-Diwar Island and Vaxim Island broke down.
It may be recalled that ferry services are the only mode of transport for residents of Vaxim Island to cross from Diwar Island to Vaxim.
A number of residents from Vaxim Island were unable to cross from Diwar Island to Vaxim after the ferry boat ‘Amona’ developed an oil leakage in the engine.
Residents of Vaxim, especially the elderly people, were forced to wait for nearly six hours to get the ferry repaired without any lunch and evening tea.
Locals alleged that the coxswain and other staff on the ferryboat ‘Amona’ knew well in advance about the oil leakage from the engine, but did not inform the Captain of Ports.
“The residents were made to suffer for over six hours, as they were unable to move from one island to the other island,” said sources.
Savio Vaz of Vaxim Island said: “The ferry broke down at about 1 pm and was out of service till 5 pm, due to which lot of people were left stranded on Amboi in Diwar Island. The residents were unable to proceed towards Vanxim Island.”
“When I asked the coxswain what was the problem with the ferryboat, he said there was an oil leakage in the engine, but I believe they knew about it two days ago and did not inform the Captain of Ports, due to which the people of Vaxim Island had to suffer,” claimed Vaz.
“The government is doing nothing to take a note of it. One must understand that the only means of transport to Vaxim Island is ferry services and if the coxswain knew about the oil leakage, I wonder why he did not replace it and waited till things turned worse,” he added.
“I had gone to Old Goa and since I had to attend a Hindu wedding of one of my friend, I returned from Old Goa to change my clothes to go for the wedding. But when I went to the ferry point, I was shocked to know about the breakdown,” added Vaz.
During the breakdown of the ferryboat, some people from Vaxim Island were seen crossing the river by canoes.
When contacted, local Panch Manuel Furtado, who is also a resident of Vaxim Island, refused to comment on the issue.
