Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: A huge boulder rolled down a hillside and crashed into a house at Voddant in Vasco on Tuesday morning, damaging a portion of the structure and triggering panic among residents. Fortunately, the family inside escaped unhurt.
The house, belonging to Pramodini Naik, sustained damage after the boulder struck the building. Residents rushed to the spot after hearing a loud impact and alerted the authorities.
Personnel from the Vasco Fire and Emergency Services inspected the site and assessed the area to ensure there was no immediate danger from additional falling rocks.
The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of houses situated at the foothills during the monsoon, when heavy rainfall increases the risk of landslides and rockfalls.
Former Mormugao Municipal Council Chairperson and Vasco Congress leader Nandadeep Raut, who visited the site, claimed he had repeatedly urged the government over the years to construct a retaining wall at the location but no action had been taken.
He alleged that the latest incident could have resulted in a tragedy and called for immediate measures to safeguard residents. Raut also criticised the government for allegedly ignoring repeated requests to address the issue.
Local residents have appealed to the authorities to remove loose boulders, assess the stability of the hillside and construct a permanent retaining wall to prevent similar incidents in the future.
