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Heavy rains disrupt life in Goa again

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

For the second time in a month, Goa was hit by stormy winds and heavy rainfall on Thursday/Friday disrupting both rail and road traffic and causing two deaths - one in capital Panaji and the other in interior Canacona.

Earlier on June 11, a heavy downpour rains had disrupted life in South Goa.

A young hotelier was crushed to death when a tree fell on his Sumo in Panaji on Friday, while a young boy was washed away in village Canacona.

Heavy rains, which caused several landslides, led to the first derailment of the Konkan Railway in Goa when the Ernakulam-bound Mangla Express, already delayed due to a landslide in Ratnagiri, ran into a huge mass of boulders at Galgibag in Canacona.

However, only the engine, the luggage coach and one general passenger coach suffered extensive damage, injuring seven people.

The KRC will take minimum two days to clear the tracks and all the trains along the route will continue to be diverted.

The four main rivers in south Goa - Sal, Kushawati, Talpona and Galgibag - are all overflowing due to continuous downpour since the night of July 5.

Besides the interiors like Canacona, Sanguem and Quepem, cities like South Goa district town of Margao, port town of Vasco and capital city of Panaji have been badly affected.

Fire-brigade personnel have been working round-the-clock since yesterday, clearing roads of fallen trees. "We have received over 35 calls in last 24 hours, of which 17 are from Panaji and 14 from Margao," said P K John, director, fire brigade.

The fire-brigade personnel rescued 130 people in Margao when they got trapped in slums built in a small coconut garden surrounded by fields from all the sides.

This is the first time in the last two decades that the tourist state has witnessed such heavy rains - 188 cm in 36 days. Goa records average rainfall of 270 cm in 120 days till September.

The issue was raised in the State Assembly today and Chief Minister Francisco Sardinha announced 24-hour relief services and compensation to those who have suffered losses due to rains.

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