AGONDA FAMILY HAS LUCKY ESCAPE AFTER OVERHEAD WATER TANK COMES CRASHING DOWN ON HOUSE
CANACONA
A family at Agonda had a lucky escape when an overhead water tank came crashing down on a house in Agonda, as gusty winds wreaked havoc in different parts of Canacona on Monday night.
Strong winds were reported at about 9 pm and several trees got uprooted. A family had a lucky escape when the overhead water tank of a nearby beach resort got blown away and came crashing down on their house, damaging the sitting room.
Members of two joint families were residing in two adjoining rooms of the house belonging to Yessu Narayan Pagi at Divanbhag (Dhawalkhazan), Agonda when the water tank fell and destroyed the roof and some appliances.
Talathi Rama Velip later stated that forms to claim compensation have been handed over to the Pagi families for the losses suffered, which have been estimated at Rs 60,000.
Elsewhere, several trees got uprooted and fell on some huts along the coastal areas of Canacona.
A coconut tree fell on the house of one Ranganath N Gaonkar at Palolem, while another tree fell on the house of Pandu Kalsu Gaonkar at Kuskem. Several trees also got uprooted at Patnem and Cotigao.
Former Cotigao sarpanch Daya Gaonkar said there had been extensive destruction to paddy fields, coconut, mango and jackfruit trees.
Trees also damaged the houses of Kishan Komarpant, Sachin and another house at Patnem, while a coconut tree fell on the road at Colomb near Oceanic hotel. Branches of a mango tree and a jackfruit tree fell behind the Devgipurush Hall at Patnem.
When contacted, Canacona ZAO Kirtiraj N Gaonkar confirmed the damages to plantations and trees but said actual losses were yet to be ascertained.
Fire also broke out at the godown of the Chandan factory at Nagorcem, but a fire tender extinguished the fire before it could cause further damage to property.
The Canacona fire services were busy attending to a number of calls since Monday night, as efforts were underway to clear the uprooted trees and debris from damaged houses.
The NH66 highway was disrupted for a short while when trees got uprooted at Barcem and near the Ganpati Gumti at Karmalghat. Firefighters later cleared the fallen trees and restored traffic along the route.
A fire tender also cleared a tree which fell on overhead electricity wires, which posed danger near the school at Galgibaga.
According to sources in the Canacona Mamlatdar office, residents who have filed claims for losses are Francisca Cardozo of Cajumoll-Khola (Rs 20,000), Yesu Pagi of Agonda (Rs 60,000), Pandu P Gaonkar (Rs 50,000) and Sukto J Gaonkar (Rs 20,000) of Kuskem-Khotigao and Navhet C Velip of Ponsuleamoll-Khotigao (Rs 20,000).
Damage to power cables and poles estimated at Rs 10 lakh
CANACONA:
Electricity department officials said the damage to electrical equipment on account of gusty winds in Canacona on Monday night would run into several lakhs of rupees, with the damage in Palolem alone estimated at Rs 10 lakh.
Several electricity wires and poles were damaged as trees came crashing down at Palolem beach, while also disrupting the power supply in and around Palolem.
“The losses to the department are estimated at over Rs 10 lakh in Palolem itself,” said Assistant Engineer Sanjay Naik.
Another Assistant Engineer Anup Rane said efforts to repair or replace the damaged wires and poles has been taken up on war-footing and the power supply to affected areas was restored by late Tuesday evening.
