Team Goemkarponn
MAJORDA: Tourism which has just begun in the world-famous beach of Sernabatim and Morjim in South Goa has suffered a blow as seawater entered several shacks.
Goa has been witnessing monsoon withdrawal rains in the last few days. The water level in the sea has risen because of the sudden continuous rain over the past three days.
Even as the industry people were just gearing up for the season and were busy in their shacks, restaurants and huts on the beach, they were taken aback by the sudden continuous rains.
Shack owners have claimed that seawater entering their shacks is causing them heavy losses. Some shacks which had begun their operations, were also affected with water pouring in from the roof.
The heavy unseasonal rains that lashed various parts of the state have affected farmers and tourism stakeholders the most.
Despite the rains and rising sea water levels, some tourists were seen enjoying themselves on the beach. Although beach beds came underwater, that did not stop the tourists both foreign and domestic from enjoying the beach.
In some shacks, foreign tourists were also seen dining even when the floor was waterlogged.
Shack owners claimed that mattresses, plastic tables and other items got soaked and damaged as the waves lashed the shacks.
They further claimed that electronic items such as refrigerators too were damaged.
The water level was so high that the waves inundated their kitchens and destroyed food items which were kept on the ground.
Meanwhile, IMD has issued a Yellow alert for Goa forecasting heavy to very rainfall with winds gusting up to 30-40 kmph.
Traffic congestion was reported in all major cities, including Panaji, Margao, Ponda and Vasco.
