MARGAO: Fire personnel were kept on their toes due to incessant rains for the second day on Monday in Margao.
They had to rush to clear the trees that had fallen along the roads thereby blocking traffic. They cleared most of the calls; however seven were pending till late evening.
A huge oak tree got uprooted at Sirvodem in the morning and in the process it damaged two adjacent coconut trees. The personnel who arrived at 2.30 pm halted work at sunset and would continue with their work Tuesday morning.
The work has been hampered as no arrangement has been made to remove the branches that were cut which have blocked the road.
“We have been asking for a JCB to remove the branches that have been cut but the same has not been provided as yet,” said the fire service personnel at the site.
Monitoring the work, Councillor Doris Texeira said she has asked a builder to provide a JCB but the same will be available only tomorrow. The access to Sirvodem is blocked and people have to use the access route near Khareband bridge.
Besides the staff needed special tree cutter and the same is likely to be available on Tuesday morning.
At Chinchinim, centuries old sausage tree (Kigelia Africanta) got uprooted blocking the main road leading to Assolna. Fire personnel arrived at around 4 pm and cleared the road. However, the operation to clear the tree will be undertaken on Tuesday as here too an earthmover is required.
Incidents of trees damaging houses near Nanu Resort in Betalbatim and near the old Nuvem panchayat at Carmel College were reported.
Incidents of tree getting uprooted were reported at Ana Fonte Garden and Maddel in Margao, Arlem Moga Baim in Benaulim and other villages.
