 "Around 1,000 homes damaged, hundreds evacuated in flood-hit Goa")
One person died, around 1,000 houses were damaged and hundreds of people evacuated from low-lying parts inundated due to heavy rains and overflowing of rivers as Goa on Friday reeled under one of the worst floods in nearly 40 years, the state government said. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told reporters here that the floods had badly hit talukas of Sattari, Bicholim, Ponda, Dharbandora, Bardez and Pernem, while other areas also suffered damage. He said there was a report of a woman drowning in Dharbandora taluka but a confirmation on the exact cause of the death was awaited. The chief minister visited certain affected areas in Bicholim taluka in the afternoon to monitor rescue and relief operations. He said government-run schools have been converted into temporary shelter homes to accommodate people evacuated from flooded areas. This is one of the worst floods since 1982. Properties worth crores of rupees have been damaged, Sawant said. The chief minister said teams of the disaster management cell swung into action on Friday and evacuated several people who were stranded at different locations. He said in Pernem taluka (North Goa), the Chapora river was flowing above the danger mark due to which water had entered low-lying areas damaging 88 houses, while eight persons were evacuated. The Chapora river also caused devastation in Bardez taluka where 167 homes were damaged and nine people evacuated, Sawant said. He said in Bicholim taluka, Valvanti and Chapora rivers were overflowing due to which 164 houses were damaged, while 40 people rescued. Sattari was one of the worst hit talukas where 130 houses were damaged while 65 people had to be rescued as Valvanti and Mahadayi rivers crossed their danger levels, the CM said. He said in Ponda taluka, several people in Waghurme village were stranded in their submerged homes and attempts were on to rescue them.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane was personally monitoring the evacuation process. In South Goa's Salcette taluka, the Kushavati river was flowing above the danger level, damaging 18 houses, Sawant said. In Dharbandora taluka in South Goa, 135 houses were damaged and 150 people evacuated, he said. In Canacona, the Talpona river was overflowing due to which 60 homes were damaged, the chief minister said. The coastal state has been experiencing heavy rains over the past few days. On Thursday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a warning that a circulation in the Bay of Bengal is likely to trigger low-pressure area that will cause more rainfall in Goa. Till Wednesday, the coastal state had received 1,998.3 mm rainfall during the ongoing monsoon season as against the average of 1,612.7 mm for the corresponding period. The state fisheries department has asked fishermen not to venture out into the sea due to gusty winds.