Houses collapse, bridges washed away in Sattari

Valpoi: Many homes collapsed, more than one minor bridge was washed away and barely the roofs of houses were visible in most parts of Sattari, as memories of the June 12, 2000 floods returned to haunt the taluka. Nearly 100 people were evacuated from their homes to higher grounds as all tributaries of River Mhadei breached their banks in the early hours of Friday.

Several villages were submerged in the taluka, and locals stuck in their houses in areas like Padeli were rescued and evacuated using ropes by disaster management personnel. As the river began swelling, the bridge at Paikul was washed away, cutting off access for several villagers. Roads caved in at Kelawade and Sawantwada-Keri.

Leonard Fernandes, a resident of Valpoi, said that his house was submerged in water in the early hours of Friday and later the entire house collapsed. “No one came to rescue us and with the help of neighbours, we managed to come out of the water,” Fernandes said.

A woman from Massordem said that during the wee hours, water started entering her house and gradually the entire house was submerged in water. “All the clothes, utensils and books of my children were washed away in the water,” she said.

Councillor of Valpoi municipal council Vinod Haldankar said that two houses in his ward belonging to Vincent D’Souza and Robert Fernandes collapsed.

“The scene is horrible in Sattari. The disaster management team must help all those affected. It is a very serious and risky situation,” said chairperson of Valpoi Municipal Council, Shaizin Shaikh.

Velus, Sonal, Sanvordem, Padeli, Bhironda and Advoi villages in Sattari were completely submerged in water.

Disaster management officials said that the overflowing rivers had led to the flooding in areas along the banks. However, no casualties have been reported.

Sonal village was completely submerged in water. It has been a regular affair for the villagers who find themselves stuck in their locality every year as the roads in the village go under water. “We have demanded with the government earlier to correct the height of the roads, as Sonal is situated in a low-lying area due to which water get accumulated on roads, but our demands were never fulfilled,” a resident said.

Traffic movement on the Valpoi-Ponda road was hit as the Savorshe-Khadki bridge was submerged due to the Mhadei overflowing.

Plantations of several villagers across Sattari were left destroyed in the

flood

.

A businessman from Valpoi, Kapil Teli, said that his godown and trucks loaded with cement were completely submerged in water and he claimed loss of Rs 20 lakh. “If there was a retaining wall constructed for the river then this situation would not have arisen,” Teli said.

The house of VMC councillor Vassiyudin Sayed was damaged due to the flood.

Panch of Bhironda panchayat Udaysingh Rane said that houses of the Sawaikar family at Bhatwadi-Advoi have collapsedand the family have suffered major loss. “I request health minister Vishwajit Rane to look into the matter as there is no other home where this family can stay,” Udaysingh said.

Valpoi resident Mashruf Shah said that many cattles were washed away in the water. “Youth from Valpoi and Nanus risked their lives and managed to save one cattle which was trapped in the water,” Shah said.

Ramdas Gaonkar, from Velus, said that 13 people reside in his house and suddenly at 4 am water started entering the house, sending the family panicking. “Sofa, refrigerator, cupboards were damaged and few things were even washed away in the flood,” she said. She said that no government officials came to rescue them.

An elderly woman Gokde Gaonkar from Kudshe said that her house was submerged in the water and she has suffered a major loss. “I had also suffered similar loss during the last flood and government had assured to help, but till date the government has not given me compensation or any assistance” Gaonkar said.

Four houses belonging to Mahajan community at Shivaji nagar Khadki completely collapsed.

Most of the villagers have retaining walls constructed on river banks could have prevented the flooding, but their pleas over it in the past have gone unheard.

North Goa collector IAS Ajit Roy visited Valpoi and took stock of the situation.