Heavy winds and sudden rain across Sal cete on Saturday evening exposed gaps in disaster preparedness, with up rooted trees, waterlogging, damaged electricity infra structure and prolonged power outages disrupting normal life in several parts of the taluka ahead of the monsoon season. From a couple escaping unhurt after a roadside tree crashed onto their vehi cle near Sarzora to power failures in villages such as Chinchinim and Assolna, Saturday’s weather spell triggered widespread dis ruption across Salcete. The most serious inci dent was reported along the Sarzora-Chinchinim stretch of National Highway 66, where a large roadside tree collapsed onto a mov ing car during strong gusty winds. The Cuncolim cou ple inside the vehicle es caped without injuries after local residents rushed to their rescue, though the car was extensively damaged.
Residents and local repre sentatives said the incident highlighted the danger posed by vulnerable roadside trees and overhanging branches that remain unattended de spite repeated warnings be fore every monsoon. Former Chinchinim sar panch Valentino Barreto said the entire Paroda-Cun colim-Sarzora-Chinchinim belt along the highway re mained vulnerable during heavy rain and wind activ ity due to the presence of ageing roadside trees. He also pointed to delays in clearing debris and re storing electricity supply in affected areas after trees and branches fell on power lines and residential properties. In Chinchinim and sur rounding areas, Velim MLA Cruz Silva coordinated re lief-related response meas ures following reports of fallen trees and electricity disruptions in parts of the village.
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Meanwhile, coastal are as of Salcete also witnessed disruption as strong winds uprooted trees and damaged electricity poles in Cavelos sim. Sarpanch Dixon Vaz said the sudden weather condi tions caught residents and tourism operators off guard, especially those operating water sports and tourist boats along the Sal river. According to Vaz, a tour ist boat carrying passen gers was damaged after strong winds blew off its roof, forcing it to return to shore. He questioned why advance warnings were not communicated to coast al operators and fisher men despite the changing weather conditions.
Local panch member Je sus D’Costa, who is associat ed with water sports opera tions, also criticised the lack of prior intimation regard ing the gusty conditions. An area in Cuncolim also witnessed some waterlog ging during the rain spell, affecting vehicular move ment and inconveniencing commuters. The sudden weather spell has now intensified demands for immediate preventive measures, in cluding trimming of dan gerous trees, strengthening of emergency response sys tems and improved coordi nation between civic bod ies, electricity authorities and disaster management agencies before the mon soon sets in fully.
