Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Gusty winds at a speed of 100kmph, heavy rainfall and high tides lashed the coastal State of Goa as the Cyclonic Tauktae hit the coast leaving trails of destruction. The weather situation will continue for the entire day even as the cyclone is slowly moving away from Goa.
Power cuts, uprooting of trees and electric poles, lack of internet and mobile network connectivity, water logging was reported across the State. The coastal areas of North and South Goa witnessed high tides with several destruction along the shores.
The rail, road and air traffic was severely affected. All the trains and flights to and from Goa stands cancelled for the day due to the prevailing weather conditions.
IMD said that the Cyclone Tauktae intensified into a “very severe cyclonic storm” over the East-central Arabian Sea and is very likely to intensify further during the next 12 hours, the India Meteorological Department said on Sunday. The cyclone will pass pass through the Union Territory of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and reach the Gujarat coast by the morning of May 18.
The Fire and Emergency personnel were on their toes with hundreds of call being received from almost every corner of the State. So far, no casualty is been reported.
“Our force has been working since last night to clear the roads and remove trees which have fallen on the power lines,” Fire director Ashok Menon said.
No casualty was reported so far, he added.
Minister for Power Nilesh Cabral said that Hundreds of electric poles are broken and scores of power conductors have snapped.
“Many high tension 33 KV feeders are down due to the falling of trees. Even the 220 KV lines bringing power to Goa from neighbouring Maharashtra have been damaged. The restoration work is also getting hampered due to the gusty winds. We are trying all our best to restore power,” he said.
initially nearly nine flights from Goa were stand cancelled. However, later Dabolim Airport authority took on twitter to announce that considering the prevalent weather conditions in,around,enroute to Goa due, all Airlines have cancelled their flight operations to and from Goa for today.
Several beach shack operators informed about loss of their properties due to rising water level. “Since last night, with rise in water level of the sea, several shacks and related structures have washed way. Water has even entered into the houses of fishing communities staying along the coast,” a shack operator said.\
