A huge boulder rolled down a hillside and crashed into a house belonging to Pramodini Naik at Voddant, Vasco, on Tuesday morning, damaging a portion of the structure and triggering panic among residents. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as the occupants escaped unhurt.
The impact of the boulder caused damage to the house, leaving the family shaken. Residents rushed to the spot after hearing a loud noise and alerted the authorities.
Personnel from the Vasco Fire and Emergency Services reached the site shortly after receiving information and inspected the affected house. The area was examined to ensure there was no immediate threat from additional falling rocks.
The incident has once again raised concerns over the safety of houses located at the foothills in the area, especially during the monsoon when continuous rainfall increases the risk of landslides and rockfalls.
Vasco Congress leader and former Mormugao Municipal Council Chairperson Nandadeep Raut, who visited the site, alleged that he had repeatedly written to the government over the past several years demanding the construction of a retaining wall to prevent such incidents, but no action had been taken.
"I have submitted several representations to the authorities over the years seeking the construction of a retaining wall at this vulnerable location. Unfortunately, nothing has been done despite repeated requests. Today's incident could have easily claimed lives. The government cannot continue to ignore the safety of residents living in such danger-prone areas," Raut said.
He criticised the State government for what he described as its lack of attention to public safety.
"The BJP government appears to be functioning with its eyes closed. Instead of focusing on the genuine problems faced by the people, there is greater attention on videography and photography of political functions attended by BJP leaders and MLAs. Meanwhile, local residents continue to face serious risks every monsoon," he alleged.
Residents have urged authorities to immediately assess the stability of the hillside, remove loose boulders and construct a permanent retaining wall to prevent similar incidents in the future.
