A man in boat guides a four-wheeler driver to negotiate the flooded road from Xell, Bastora to the service road in Guirim.
MAPUSA
The residents of Guirim have been brought to their knees by just one day of torrential rain.
The severe downpour on Sunday resulted in extensive flooding, submerging the entire low-lying fields on both sides of NH-66 and causing significant disruptions to daily life.
The flooding began on Sunday and persisted through Monday, leaving the main arterial road in the village, which runs along the Guirim government school, underwater. This prolonged submersion made life exceedingly difficult for motorists and local residents.
Additionally, the road from the service road near Hotel Green Park to Xell, Bastora was also inundated, with water levels rising so high that the distinction between the road and the surrounding fields was completely blurred.
Aerial views revealed the vast extent of the flooding, with rainwater covering areas that had not been submerged in decades.
“This year, the water has covered a vast area which had never been seen in decades. And in just one day of rain. Imagine what will happen if it rains continuously for two or three days,” remarked Fondu Naik, former sarpanch of Guirim.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
Several factors contributed to the severity of the flooding.
In many places, the water in the fields overflowed onto the roads, with the area near Hotel Green Park experiencing significant flooding for the first time, severely restricting traffic.
Furthermore, the water took a considerable time to recede, exacerbating the difficulties faced by the residents.
The tidal conditions of the River Tar also played a role in the flooding of the entire area.
ROOT CAUSES, BLAME
Former sarpanch Fondu Naik attributed the flooding to multiple sources, including the government, the local panchayat, and the farmers.
He criticised the farmers for conducting landfilling activities in their fields and setting up commercial units, with the local panchayat allegedly granting permissions without addressing the flooding concerns. “In 2021, the Chief Minister had promised to desilt the entire Tar River from Guirim, Bastora right up to Mapusa. Till today, nothing has happened,” Naik lamented.
John Fernandes, a former panchayat member and resident of Xell, Bastora, supported Naik’s claims. He pointed out that water catchment areas had been reclaimed by landfilling, leaving no outlet for excess water.
“When it rains heavily, all the water from Guirim gets diverted to the fields in Bastora, submerging part of the village,” Fernandes explained.
He emphasised that dredging the River Tar is the only viable solution to the problem.
FUTURE CONCERNS
The current situation paints a grim picture of what the future holds. The severe flooding in Guirim after just one day of heavy rain highlights the urgent need for comprehensive flood management strategies.
As the monsoon season progresses, the community remains on high alert, hoping for timely intervention to mitigate the risks of further flooding.
