PANJIM: Continuous rains led to rising waters inundating villages in the eastern parts of Goa on Friday, damaging houses and leading to evacuation of people to safer areas. One person died at Dharbandora.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, who inspected some of the flood-hit areas said that around 700 houses have been damaged and more than 200 people were evacuated to safer places as waters rose and entered houses.
Addressing the media at Porvorim, Sawant said one woman was washed away at Dharbandora while around 700 houses were damaged across the State and this number could reach 1000.
The highest – 164 houses – were damaged in Bicholim taluka while, 135 houses were damaged in Dharbandora and 130 houses suffered major damages in Sattari taluka. Also 88 houses were damaged in Pernem taluka, 67 in Bardez taluka and 18 in Sanguem taluka.
The Chief Minister said that around 136 persons were evacuated in Dharbandora, 84 people in Sanguem taluka, 65 in Sattari taluka, 40 in Bicholim taluka, nine in Bardez taluka, eight in Pernem taluka and seven in Canacona taluka.
The elderly woman who died at Udalshe Sacorda in Dharbandora went missing on Thursday night during the chaos the ensued as the rising waters of the Dudhsagar led to people hurrying to get out of their homes to save themselves. In the process the woman went missing. Her body was found on Friday.
The Chief Minister on Friday inspected the areas flooded due to incessant rains in various parts of Bicholim taluka and directed the officials to provide immediate relief and assistance to people in distress.
Sawant said relief and rescue operations continued across the State even as people were rescued in Usgao and Vagurme villages in Ponda taluka. An evacuation drive was taken up and even the Navy’s helicopter service was sought to airlift trapped people in Usgao but the villagers appeared frightened.
“I personally visited Bicholim taluka since morning to evening and witnessed a huge degree of damage caused to the properties,” he said.
Sawant said shelter homes have been set up in government primary schools and high schools in all the talukas.
To a question, he said it was too early to announce the total loss caused due to the rains. It was after 1982 that the State has witnessed such a grim situation of floods, according to the Chief Minister.
Many villagers are without electricity and also drinking water due to flooding of pumping stations while, the government authorities are monitoring the situation.
Some villages have been cut off and rivers are overflowing, Sawant said and urged the NGOs and the people to extend helping hand to the government in the hour of crisis.
