MARCOS GONSALVES
marcos@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: A cyclone with a name that could be confused with a social media app like Tik Tok, Tauktae came, conquered and left with not a single follower and a wave of dislikes and despair.
Salcete which covers a major chunk of coastal South Goa faced a massive brunt of the cyclone’s misery
150 incidents of the tree fall reported, resulting in damage to houses, besides other properties. Still many villages of this taluka are in total darkness and without water since May 16 due to tree falls on electricity poles.
The concerned authorities are yet to access the exact loss that occurred due to the heavy rainfall and fierce winds. On the other hand, Cyclone Tauktae has left major destruction in Salcete on all fronts. Besides, Fire and Emergency Services several panchayats, police, public in large numbers were witnessed actively taking part in clearing the obstructions caused due to the tree falls. The fishing community has also suffered a huge loss in this havoc of Cyclone Tauktae.
As informed by the Additional Collector of South Goa Surendra Naik, compensation will be given to all affected people and more especially to the citizens suffering losses due to the heavy damage to the houses.
“We have reported several incidents of uprooting of trees on roads and houses. Affected people will be compensated and authorities have already started the process of compensating”, he stated.
He said that there was no causality in Salcete, but reported one death at Ponda”
“We had given top priority to clear the Highways and hence every call of highways block due to tree fall was attended immediately. District Authority has geared up the machinery well in advance”, said Naik.
As informed by Additional Collector besides one transformer in Salcete nearly 40 electricity poles were damaged in South Goa. Fierce winds have damaged nearly 101 houses between 15 to 17 May, while 32 incidents of the house damaged reported after the onset of the monsoon. The incidents of effect to the crop area have not yet reported in Salcete and nor in the South.
The exact loss is Salcete due to cyclone Tauktae is yet to be known. The assessment of loss with regard to structural damage is underway and the officials from Public Works Department are doing the duties.
“The loss will be known only after two-three days”, said Additional Collector.
Fire and Emergency Services, Margao was on their toes since May 15, as nearly 150 incidents have been reported at the station. Despite just 57 in numbers, the Margao Fire and Emergency Services managed to attend as many calls as they can. 50 percent of calls are yet to be attended.
Speaking to Herald Deputy Director of Fire and Emergency Services South Goa at Margao Nitin Raikar said the team has been t
trying to attend to all the calls reported at the Station.
Margao Fire station four emergency vehicles and two fire tenders. And they were out to attend 150 calls.
“This Cyclone has done major damage on all fronts. Fierce winds have resulted in the uprooting of several trees, causing major damage to the people and government properties. The staff of the Margao fire and emergency services is doing overtime, as they cannot go home and seat without attending the calls”, Nitin said.
When asked about the loss he said that they are yet to do the final assessment, but it will be in lakhs of rupees.
The staff of Margao fire and emergency services Abay Asolkar informed that they are yet to attend nearly 50 calls.
As informed by the sources many panchayat members of Salcete and Councilors of Margao, Municipal Council besides public were witnessed helping the government machinery. Even many panch members were seen on the ground helping to remove the blockage of roads, engaging private tree-cutters. Several citizens were also witnessed trying to clear the roads and rescuing the people.
A major power failure due to the tree falls on electricity poles has resulted in a lesser impact on the South Goa District Hospital and ESI at Margao. The administration of both hospitals was well prepared to tackle the power failure. There were chances of disrupting the oxygen supply but authorities managed well.
Nodal Officer of South Goa District Hospital Dr. Rajesh Patel said the district hospital had a backup arrangement and power disruption did not affect the hospital.
“There was no problem of power failure in the district hospital. We were well prepared, as there were nearly 500 Covid patients taking treatment and we were not supposed to take any risk. The backup power arrangement helped us to manage, despite power failure in the city and surrounding areas”, he stated.
On the other hand, to ensure normal functioning ESI hospital at Margao took the help of a backup power facility.
As informed by the Medical Superintendent Dr. Vishwajeet Faldesai, a power failure incident was reported in the morning hours on May 16 but they immediately switch on to the 1000 KVA generator.
“The service at ESI ran unaffected despite power failure”, he stated.
Despite havoc due to cyclone Tauktae, the oxygen supply in district hospital besides ESI gone interrupted. Deputy Collector of South John Fernandes was personally on the ground to check out the smooth supply of oxygen.
“There was a power failure at Verna Oxygen plant, besides Govid Poi Oxygen at Arlem. But within a few minutes, the power supply was restored”, said John.
At Arlem generator was used to restore the power supply in the plant. Whereas, at Verna, men in uniform of power department rush to the site immediately and helped the plant run interrupted.
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Salcete faces dark days as power department struggles to bring the lights back
Several villages of Salcete taluka are in total darkness since May 16 and the electricity department is on its toes to restore the power supply. The power failure has also affected the water supply in Salcete, as a result, citizens continued to suffer for the last two days.
On Monday other than Margao and Fatorda almost all other villages in Salcete faced the problem of power failure, as concerned authorities were yet to repair the damaged electricity poles due to tree falls.
There are reports of no power supply since May 16 from the villages of the coastal belt such as Benaulim, Varca, Carmona, Orlim, besides Majorda, Nuvem, Davorlim, etc. The staffs of the electricity department are working hard to restore the same.
As informed by the sources of electricity the department may take two more days to restore the power supply in few parts of Salcete taluka, as they have reported major damage due to cyclone Taruktae.
On the other hand, as a result of power failure, many parts of the Salcete are without a water supply for two days. There is no pumping of water and hence citizens are facing the water shortage problem.
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Find ways to provide hardware for damaged houses: Digambar to CM
Leader of Opposition on Monday urged the Chief Minister to find an alternative for providing the hardware and other items to all those houses has got damaged. Similar assessment needs to be done of other properties also an essential help must be given to them.
“After the cyclone hit Goa, many houses have got damaged and need urgent repairs. Many families have contacted me expressing their difficulties. As the hardware shops are not under essential commodities, it has become impossible for the families to even get nails from the market to do minor repairs. People need tin sheets, plastic covers, etc to cover the roofs”, said Digambar.
