Following two days of relentless rainfall, Goa finds itself grappling with widespread waterlogging and incidents of tree falls, prompting authorities to issue a red alert and caution residents to exercise caution amidst the adverse weather conditions. Parts of Panaji, the state capital, were inundated on Sunday as heavy rainfall inundated streets, causing water to seep into shops and vehicles to become stranded in submerged drains. Roads throughout the city resembled lakes, severely disrupting normal life.
Margao, one of the worst affected areas, recorded a staggering 153mm of rainfall, categorizing the event as “extreme rainfall” by meteorological standards. Concerns have been raised by meteorologists over the intensity of the downpour and its potential impact on infrastructure and public safety.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued warnings of heavy to very heavy rainfall in both North and South Goa districts for June 10 and 11, with an orange alert in place for these dates. Despite the preparedness measures in place, the fire and emergency services faced significant challenges in responding to calls for assistance, particularly in clearing uprooted trees blocking roads across the state.
In Sangolda, a compound wall collapse disrupted traffic on the Chogm road stretch, while an uprooted tree at the Dhavali junction in Ponda caused traffic congestion for close to an hour. Fortunately, no loss of life was reported despite the adverse weather conditions. The incidents of waterlogging and tree falls highlight the vulnerability of Goa’s infrastructure to extreme weather events and underscore the need for proactive measures to mitigate the impact of heavy rainfall. As the state continues to grapple with the aftermath of the red alert rainfall, efforts to strengthen resilience and enhance disaster preparedness remain paramount to safeguarding lives and property in the future.
