PANJIM: Incessant rains on Wednesday morning brought some relief from the dry weather in Goa, but it also threw normal life out of the gear with minor landslides, uprooting of trees and flooding reported across the State.
The Fire Control Room received distress calls from people seeking assistance and fire personnel were on their toes through the day. In Panjim, people living in low-lying areas were affected due to rise in water level, many roads were flooded leaving commuters in a tricky situation and traffic congestion. Roads were flooded in Margao, and two people were injured as their car was trapped under a tree that crashed on it at Dhavlim, holding up traffic on the national highway for three hours.
A minor landslide was reported inside the parking lot of a hotel in Panjim, which damaged two parked vehicles.
While many premises, including houses witnessed flooding, Porvorim police station also had the unpleasant experience as two-wheelers parked in the spacious police station premise were nearly submerged.
A major accident was averted when a retaining wall, a few meters from the marine workshop in Betim collapsed. A witness alleged that poor quality of the work and multiple works around the area had probably weakened the wall.
“Collapse of the huge retaining wall is itself self-explanatory on the manner in which it was built. Lakhs are spent on such work but it still poses danger to the people and property. Moreover, many works are underway which could have weakened the wall,” he said.
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte, who rushed to the site, demanded a detailed report from the Public Works Department. “This area was sensitive for a number of years in terms of vehicles, which is why a retaining wall was constructed. Simultaneously, works like underground cabling is also underway. I have asked for a report from the PWD based on which a plan of action will have to be decided,” he said.
Khaunte demanded that action be initiated against the contractor of the underground cabling for haphazard and incomplete works in Porvorim including the present accident site. “For now, a temporary measure needs to be in place so that vehicles plying along this route are safe and so also the people living here. A long term measure too should come into place,” he added.
