Fire department teams were kept on their toes as they had to attend to trees falling on roads and houses. In Panjim, trees fell on live wires. An electricity pole fell on a house at Mala and there were minor landslides in various places. In some areas, creeks were overflowing, leading to submerging of slums and other structures located in the water-logged areas.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar as well as the Corporation of the City of Panaji Mayor and Corporator Bento Lorena were seen going round the city to assess the situation.
Fire teams of 50 personnel, including officer-in-charge Police Head quarters Bosco Ferrao and sub-officer S Parrikar besides the fire and emergency recruits helped residents to evacuate from inundated houses and shift their belongings to safer places. The electricity department, police and local administration were also roped-in to assist the people.
Ferrao said that four shops and 10 residences at Mala were affected.
Hutment dwellers at Peterwada, Caranzalem, refused to move out of the danger-prone areas despite their houses being waterlogged. “The western side was filled with water. We tried convincing them to shift as rains in the coming days will worsen the situation, but they declined. We asked the deputy collector to initiate action,” Assistant Divisional Officer, District Fire Station Panjim, said. They were subsequently shifted to a safe location after the intervention of the local MLA, sources said.
By evening, the water level dipped even as ropes were fixed at various ends to help people move.
