MARGAO/BICHOLIM/MAPUSA/CANACONA/VASCO: Salcete was affected by strong winds and rains on the first day of monsoons, on Tuesday. The fire station at Margao reported a total of seven tree fall cases with one of it damaging a house and others blocking the roads.
A mango tree in the property of Shanu Mascarenhas from Banda, Assolna, came down crashing down, falling onto the house and resulting in a loss of at least Rs. 25,000. The incident occurred around 9 am. The tree was later cleared by fire-fighters.
Meanwhile, there were a number of tree fall cases reported in the coastal belt of Salcete mainly due to gusty winds. The fire-fighters were busy clearing tree falls till late evening.
In Bicholim, the strong winds caused a loss of more than Rs 50,000 to property.
According to the available information a branch of mango tree fell on vehicle belonging to one Pradip Matonkar from Murdiwada Narva causing a loss worth Rs.50000.
In another incident a branch of mango tree fell on the house of one Narayan Anand Narvekar from Murdiwada Narva causing a loss of Rs 6000.
Besides many tree falling incidents on roads and electicity wires were also reported in some parts of Bicholim.
The fire force personnel were kept busy during the evening.
Meanwhile, a rise in the water levels was witnessed along the coastal belt.
Handful of tourists visiting the coastal area stretch witnessed rising water from the sea due to the cyclonic storm brewing in the Arabian Sea. The cyclone created an impact on the sea conditions causing the water level to rise along the beaches. There were also a strong winds.
A local from Guirim, Simon Lobo who works in the coastal area said that the sea had become rough and heavy winds were witnessed since 2pm on Tuesday. “The sea water had come up at around 4 pm but now has gone back. We also witnessed short spells of rain from the morning. At the same time there are very strong winds blowing probably an impact from the cyclone,” said Lobo.
While a local from Baga, Lourenco Fernandes said, “the water level was higher than the last two days and the sea condition was rough. We saw really gigantic waves lash the shore. This reminded us of the water being pushed towards the shore last year in October due to the cyclonic storm. There are barely a handful of tourists spotted who are scattered along the beach,” he said.
However there was no damaged witnessed along the Bardez coastal belt over the last two days.
Meanwhile, residents staying close to the sea shore are keeping an eye on the water level which was seen dangerously rising along the entire coastline of Canacona taluka.
The deputy collector and head of the taluka disaster management Committee Sagun Velip held a meeting with Mamlatdar and PI of Canacona together with the heads of the other government departments on Tuesday morning.
The deputy collector briefed the officials present about the emergency-like situation arising out of the ‘Cyclone Vayu’. Machinery like trucks, earth movers and manpower is kept on standby mode to tackle any eventuality that may arise due to the cyclonic winds a source present for the meeting said.
Meanwhile, Bogmalo beach on Tuesday evening witnessed high sea waves along with gusty wind currents which created chaos among the locals who were at the beach. After two hours by 7 pm the sea water level came back to normal.
When contacted local panch of Bogmalo, Laxman Kavlekar, informed that at around 5 pm, all of a sudden high tidal waves were seen coming on the Bogmalo beach. The waves were coming with such speed and were high which was not seen before,” he added.
Kavlekar also claimed that the sea water entered some bars and restuarants which are at Bogmalo beach area. Although he claimed that no major losses incurred due to gusty winds and high tidal waves.
When contacted a taxi driver Mahesh Tulasulkar said in the evening the weather at the Bogmalo beach and nearby area was rough. There was strong wind.
Naguesh Chawan, a Drishti guard said, “people who were on the shore panicked seeing the sudden strong wind currents, rainfall and rough sea. By late evening the sea waves were back to normal, but gusty winds continued”.
