Heavy Rains Wreak Havoc in Goa, Claim Three Lives and Leave 150 Stranded

Heavy rainfall in Goa has caused widespread destruction, claiming the lives of at least three people and leaving over 150 others stranded in a popular waterfall. The incident occurred in North Goa’s Kundaim, where a retaining wall collapsed, trapping three labourers employed with an engineering project. The deceased have been identified as Dilip Yadav (37), Mukesh Kumar Singh (38), and Trinath Nayak (47). One worker also suffered injuries in the incident.

The collapse of the retaining wall was just one of the many incidents reported in the state as heavy rain pelted Goa. In Sattari taluka, over 150 people, including locals and tourists, were stranded at Pali waterfall in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary after the water levels rose due to the rain. The rescue operation, which lasted four hours, was conducted with the help of forest, police, and local authorities. According to a forest department official, visitors were stranded in three to four patches at the waterfall, unable to cross a stream due to the rising water levels.

“All 150 stranded people at Pali had been rescued with the help of forest, police, and locals of Pali,” said North Goa SP Akshat Kaushal in a statement. A majority of those stranded were from different parts of the state. Pali has been designated as a “low-risk” waterfall trail, where trekking is permitted but swimming is not allowed.

In the aftermath of the incident, the state forest department has announced that it will close access to all waterfalls in the state for a week until the rain subsides. The directorate of education has also declared that schools will remain closed on Monday. The India Meteorological Department has warned of a “moderate flash flood risk” in coastal Karnataka and Goa over the next 24 hours, predicting “heavy to very heavy rainfall” with strong surface winds in Goa on Sunday.

The state capital Panaji received over 115 mm of rainfall in just six hours on Sunday morning. A landslide was reported on the national highway in Connem Priol, following which traffic was diverted from Farmagudi to Mardol and block clearing work was initiated. The stretch was cleared by traffic police around 4 pm. A retaining wall also collapsed on national highway 66 on the Naibag-Pernem stretch.

In addition, a portion of Mala district court Altinho road in North Goa caved in and was closed for vehicular traffic, while Paroda-Quepem bridge in South Goa was submerged, traffic police said. The state’s forest department had earlier banned entry to waterfalls in the state in June after a few incidents of drownings were reported, but the ban was partially lifted to allow access to low-risk waterfalls like Pali after criticism from the state’s tourism minister Rohan Khaunte.

Historical Context:

Goa, a state in western India, is known for its tropical climate and heavy rainfall during the monsoon season, which typically runs from June to September. The state’s geography, with its hilly terrain and numerous waterfalls, makes it prone to landslides and flash floods during heavy rainfall. In recent years, Goa has experienced several instances of heavy rainfall and flooding, including a severe flood in 2019 that affected over 10,000 people and caused significant damage to infrastructure.

In 2019, the Goa government had banned entry to waterfalls in the state after a series of drownings and accidents, but the ban was partially lifted in June 2022 to allow access to low-risk waterfalls like Pali. This decision was criticized by the state’s tourism minister, Rohan Khaunte, who argued that the ban was too restrictive and would harm the state’s tourism industry.

Article Summary:

• Heavy rainfall in Goa has caused widespread destruction, claiming the lives of at least three people and leaving over 150 others stranded in a popular waterfall. • A retaining wall collapsed in North Goa’s Kundaim, trapping three labourers employed with an engineering project, resulting in the deaths of Dilip Yadav (37), Mukesh Kumar Singh (38), and Trinath Nayak (47). • Over 150 people, including locals and tourists, were stranded at Pali waterfall in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary after the water levels rose due to the rain, and were rescued after a four-hour operation involving forest, police, and local authorities. • The state forest department has announced that it will close access to all waterfalls in the state for a week until the rain subsides. • The directorate of education has declared that schools will remain closed on Monday. • The India Meteorological Department has warned of a “moderate flash flood risk” in coastal Karnataka and Goa over the next 24 hours, predicting “heavy to very heavy rainfall” with strong surface winds in Goa on Sunday. • A landslide was reported on the national highway in Connem Priol, and a retaining wall collapsed on national highway 66 on the Naibag-Pernem stretch. • A portion of Mala district court Altinho road in North Goa caved in and was closed for vehicular traffic, while Paroda-Quepem bridge in South Goa was submerged.