Several houses damaged as rains, thunderstorm lash Shiroda in Goa

PONDA, GOA: Several houses were damaged, some of them severely, as rain and thunderstorms, accompanied by squally winds lashed Shiroda in the Ponda taluka of Goa.

Shiroda is a forested, hilly area, part of the Ponda taluka and home to several tribes and forest dwellers.

Local reports suggested damage to houses and roofs caused due to falling trees were in the range of nearly Rs 50 lakh.

According to a report by Digital Goa, unseasonal rain and cyclonic winds caused severe damage in Shiroda. Except for injury to one person, no human

Property and trees were damaged. The report claimed, trees collapsed on 28 houses causing loss to the tune of around Rs 55 lakhs.

One woman was injured and fire personnel were on their toes to clear up the fallen trees.

The Goa Electricity Department suffered loss of nearly Rs 10 lakh, the report said, adding that power was disrupted at various places and officials are trying to restore electricity to the remote areas of Panchwadi, Nirankal, Bethoda and Borim.

The same report mentioned gusty winds blew off the roof sheets of the Fatorda Stadium on Sunday night. A similar incident had occurred two years ago, when parts of the roof of the stadium was blown off and landed on the roads nearby.

The Met department has predicted rain and thunderstorms in parts of Goa till the end of this week. Occasional and isolated rain and thunderstorm activity, accompanied with lighting, is likely to continue till the 15th of this month in Goa, the weatherman warned residents.