PANAJI/MARGAO: The state witnessed heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds on Friday night and Saturday morning with many towns and villages experiencing acute water-logging, landslides and uprooting of trees, in turn causing inconvenience to the public.

The state meteorological observatory recorded rainfall of 234.6 mm during 24 hours ending early Saturday morning, while the rainfall noted between 8.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. on Saturday is 25.6 mm. The observatory sources further informed that the weather conditions are becoming more favourable in coming three months as the further advances of Southwest Monsoon will bring good rains in western part of the country.

"Widespread rain would occur over Konkan and Goa and coastal Karnataka, during next few days, with heavy rainfall warning in some of the states including Goa and Karnataka," they added.

Most of the parts of the city were submerged in water on Saturday morning from Kadamba bus stand to Miramar Circle. The pre-monsoon works carried out by the Corporation of the City of Panaji were found to be inadequate to control the water-logging in the city. The 18th June Road, which was free from water-logging for past many years had ankle-deep water, with water gushing in some of the shops in the area.

The mayor, Ms Carolina Po told The Navhind Times that the high tide for River Mandovi accompanied with heavy downpour during entire night had resulted in the water-logging around the city.

"I am visiting all parts of the city under the jurisdiction of the Corporation and inspecting the public requirements vis-à-vis water-logging," she said pointing out that the CCP workers, including special monsoon squads and tree cutting squads, have been pressed into action.

Speaking further, Ms Po said that there have been minor landslides at Mala, Ribandar and Monte Pio, with no major losses.

"The situation is totally under control in the city," she added.

Heavy rains affected the normal life in South Goa. Trees were uprooted in several villages of Salcete. Rainwater gushed into the houses and several roads were flooded throwing the traffic out of gear. However, there was no loss of life.

The downpour affected the train services and educational institutions in the South Goa district.

The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat along with the sub-divisional magistrate, Mr Johnson Fernandes and officers of the public works department, the power department and the South Goa collectorate visited some parts of Margao, Ravonfond and directed the officials to take up prompt measures to remove the muddy water which entered the houses. He also directed them to clear the roads, which were blocked by the uprooted trees.

One tree was uprooted at Monte Hill, which was removed by the fire personnel. Several trees were uprooted at Carmona, Cana-Benaulim. Electricity and telephone poles were also uprooted at a few places.

The sub-divisional magistrate inspected some flooded houses in Margao and its suburban areas like Ravonfond, Khareband, Navelim. Some families whose houses were flooded were shifted to safer places. He assessed the damages to the houses and gave financial help to 14 householders for repair works.

Rainwater also gushed into the houses in some villages of Salcete like Ambelim, Davorlim and Betalbatim.

The heavy rains flooded several streets in and around Margao and some low-lying areas of Salcete. The roads at Ravindra Bhavan, Maddel, Borda, Ravonfond, Vidyanagar, Khareband, Aquem were submerged by the rainwater.

A 62-year-old woman was trapped inside her house at Ravonfond. However, fire personnel rescued her.

Rainwater also flooded the Margao-Quepem road at Paroda disrupting the vehicular traffic in the morning. So buses going to Quepem and Sanguem were diverted. However, as day progressed the water level receded.

Several parts of Salcete plunged into darkness due to disruption of power supply, which was restored in some parts of Margao. But efforts were on to restore it in the villages of Salcete.

Sources in the South Goa collector office said that a survey of the rain-affected areas would be conducted and action would be initiated.

The sources restrained from pegging the loss caused to the properties of the government and citizens as the collectorate has not made any assessment of the damages. However, once the assessment is made the government would pay compensation to the people for the damages caused by the downpour.