Yellow alert issued for Oct 9, 10: IMD warns of thunderstorms, gusty winds
Team Herald
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PANJIM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD), Goa, has issued a yellow alert for October 9 and 10, warning of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds in isolated areas across North and South Goa.
The IMD predicts that thunderstorms with gusty winds reaching speeds
of 30-40 km/hour are likely in both districts during
this period.
In the meantime, rainfall associated with the retreating monsoon caught many Goans off guard, as rain lashed the State on Monday evening. This pattern continued into Tuesday, leading to thunderstorms and causing disruptions to normal life. Traffic in the capital city of Panjim was severely affected, with waterlogging reported on the Atal Setu and vehicles moving at a snail’s pace thanks to poor visibility and easy-to-miss potholes filled with rainwater.
Lightning strike damages Holy Spirit Church, Margao reels from storm
Waterlogging around Municipal building and garden; house caves in leaving three injured; falling trees keep firemen busy
Team Herald
MARGAO: Lightning struck a turret of the 460-year-old Holy Spirit Church in
Margao, causing a few stones to fall onto the courtyard
below. Nobody was hurt, but a scooter parked below was damaged by the falling debris.
As news spread, a number of Margao parishioners and passersby braved the rain to gather in the church yard, anguished at the damage to the formidable façade of the baroque-style church. At first glance, it appears that a decorative pinnacle atop the church has borne the brunt of the strike.
The crowd gathered at the church voiced their concern about whether the heritage structure would be repaired properly and restored to its former glory.
In a separate incident, three people were injured when the walls of a house near the Margao flyover collapsed due to the incessant rain. The three occupants were rushed to hospital in an ambulance. Firemen responded to multiple instances of falling tree branches, one which damaged a car
at Khareband.
Waterlogging plagued several areas of Margao, with the vicinity of the Municipal building and garden experiencing particularly severe flooding. The corridor surrounding the MMC building was submerged, disrupting hawkers and cobblers who struggled to keep their goods dry. Vehicles driving through the flooded streets sent waves of water into the
MMC corridor, leaving homeless people who typically sleep outside the building without a dry spot to rest for the night.
MMC councillors who had gathered for the civic body meeting said that waterlogging was due to the clogged drains, adding that they need to be kept clear even after the monsoon season.
Storm pushes Cortalim-Marcaim ferry off course, passengers stranded for three hours
Team Herald
PONDA: Panic gripped passengers on a ferry boat traveling from Cortalim to the Marcaim ramp after the vessel drifted off course and became stuck in the mud midway due to gusty winds and heavy rain. The incident occurred at around 6.30 pm, leaving passengers stranded on the ferry, exposed to the downpour for over three hours.
The ferry, packed with people and vehicles, was finally freed from the muck around 10 pm during high tide and floated its way to the Marcaim ramp. Ponda Fire personnel arrived on the scene to assist.
The ferry route, spanning around 1.5 kilometres, is commonly used by passengers, including factory workers and government employees traveling to the Verna Industrial Estate and Ponda. Many passengers expressed concern over the safety of this water route, which they feel is risky, especially during harsh weather conditions.
Marcaim Sarpanch Shailendra Panjikar acknowledged that such incidents are common during heavy winds, particularly given the length of the ferry route, which he noted as the longest in Goa. He suggested relocating the Cortalim ferry ramp to Agasaim, directly opposite the Marcaim ramp, which would significantly shorten the route and provide a safer journey. Panjikar added that the bandhara (embankment) at Agasaim has already been widened, making it suitable for light vehicles if a new ramp is constructed on that side.
Taleigao farmers hit as kharif crop is ravaged by rain
The standing paddy crop has fallen to the ground, making it difficult to harvest
Team Herald
PANJIM: Farmers in Taleigao are reeling from losses caused by the sudden heavy rains that lashed the State on Monday and Tuesday. The unexpected downpour destroyed or severely damaged their paddy crops, leaving many farmers struggling to salvage their hard work. Farmers who had already harvested their crops faced difficulties drying the grains, while those yet to harvest found their crops bent or flattened by the rains.
Nitin D’Souza, a young farmer who has been growing paddy since the age of 15, expressed frustration, noting, “When it rains like this, the crop bends. Farmers who were supposed to harvest now find their crops on the ground. Those who harvested earlier can’t dry the grains properly.”
Senior citizen Luciano, another local farmer, shared similar concerns. He explained that a group of farmers had pooled resources to request a harvester from the government, enabling them to harvest the crops of 21 farmers before the rains hit. However, despite these efforts, the damage from the rains was considerable. “The compensation provided by the government is not enough to cover our losses, but we can’t entirely blame them,” Luciano said.
Luciano also discussed the challenges farmers face with the pricing of their crops. Farmers in Taleigao grow two varieties of rice—Jaya (white rice) and Jyoti (brown rice). While the government’s minimum price is Rs 20 per kg, buyers offer only Rs 17 per kg, which he described as uneconomical. “If they buy at Rs 75 and sell at Rs 100, we have no issues. But the current system is just not fair,” he added.
Luciano emphasised the need for community farming to streamline the harvesting process, though some farmers prefer their independence. “Some farmers grow Jyoti and some grow Jaya, so the harvesting time differs. A few of us have started growing the same variety to harvest at one time, but even this season, we suffered badly,” he lamented. He also raised concerns about the financial strain caused by transportation and processing costs, which outweigh
the benefits of government compensation.
“The government pays us Rs 1,700 per 100 kgs and we have to pay Rs 3,000 only to transport it there. So, there is no benefit. And to dehusk the rice is a big problem. I’m helping young Nathan because he is enthusiastic, and we work well together. I do take advice from him too and he helps me a lot in marketing,” Luciano says with a smile.
Bicholim grapples with flooding, power outages; trees uprooted
Team Herald
BICHOLIM: Heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds and lightning on Tuesday evening caused widespread disruption across Bicholim taluka, throwing normal life out of gear.
Incidents of uprooted trees and damaged electricity poles were reported throughout the taluka, resulting in widespread power outages. Many areas were plunged into darkness as electricity poles and wires sustained damage, while low-lying areas faced waterlogging after around two hours of heavy rain.
Rahul Dessai, Station Fire Officer (SFO) at Bicholim, stated that fire personnel responded to 13 calls related to trees falling on roads and houses. Fire teams were dispatched to clear the debris, ensuring the reopening of roads to allow vehicular movement. The fire department remained on high alert throughout the evening as they worked to address the various incidents caused by the storm.
