MARGAO
A husband-wife duo from Cuncolim had a miraculous escape after a roadside tree, uprooted by strong gusty winds, came crashing onto their car at the Sarzora-Chinchinim stretch along the NH66 on Saturday evening.
The incident, which left the vehicle extensively damaged, has once again raised serious concerns over disaster management preparedness and the failure to trim or remove dangerous roadside trees ahead of the monsoon season. Residents and local leaders have questioned the delay in undertaking preventive measures despite repeated warnings about vulnerable trees lining major roads across Salcete.
The mishap occurred when Ronny Fernandes was returning home from Margao with his wife during heavy winds and rain that lashed several parts of Salcete on Saturday evening. According to sources, Fernandes attempted to briefly halt his vehicle by the roadside while waiting for the strong winds to subside. Moments later, a large roadside tree was uprooted by the force of the winds and collapsed directly onto the car.
The impact severely damaged the vehicle and left the couple trapped inside for some time before members of the public rushed to their rescue. Fortunately, both escaped without any injuries.
The gusty weather also triggered widespread disruption in several villages, including Chinchinim, Assolna and surrounding areas, where uprooted trees and fallen branches reportedly caused power outages and damage to property.
Former Chinchinim Sarpanch Valentino Barreto said the incident should serve as a wake-up call for authorities ahead of the approaching monsoon season.
“What we witnessed on the NH66 and in villages like Chinchinim should be treated as a serious warning. The entire Panzorconne“Cuncolim“Sarzora“Chinchinim stretch of NH66 is lined with trees, many of which pose a threat during strong winds and heavy rains. It appears that several dangerous trees and overhanging branches have still not been trimmed or removed by the authorities,” Barreto said.
He further pointed out that a number of uprooted trees had also fallen on residential houses in Chinchinim, while debris in some areas was yet to be cleared by the authorities.
“There has been a prolonged power outage in Chinchinim following the gusty winds, and residents have no clarity on when electricity supply will be restored. The Electricity Department, too, must strengthen its emergency response systems before the monsoons intensify,” he added.
Meanwhile, residents of Assolna complained that power supply have not yet been restored in the village hit by the strong winds. Frustrated consumers demanded immediate restoration and sought clarity from the authorities on the expected timeline for resumption of power supply.
The incident has intensified calls for coordinated action by the district disaster management authorities, PWD, forest officials and the electricity department to undertake urgent tree-trimming drives, improve emergency response mechanisms and ensure public safety before the onset of the full-fledged monsoon season in Goa.
