Gusty winds & high tide raise sea, river levels across Goa

PANAJI: Citizens commuting via the Panaji-Betim ferry route on the Mandovi witnessed mildly increased water levels on Monday. The river navigation department attributed this rise to two factors, the high tide and gusty winds.
Ferry operations, however, continued without commuters facing any major problems. Across the state, too, the sea level witnessed an unusual rise by evening.
“Sailors faced a problem while manoeuvring vessels due to the wind speed. This, however, reduced by evening making it better for them to operate,” a river navigation department official told TOI.
“The rise in water level was noticed prominently only at the Panaji-Betim jetties and not so much at Ribandar. There was high-tide due to which water level rises, but the winds also may have played a significant role in the upsurge,” the official added.
The India meteorological department (IMD) on Monday predicted a cyclonic storm along Goa’s coastline.
Most parts of the state experienced gusty winds and the forecaster said the winds would intensify within the next 24 hours, leading to heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and thunderstorms in isolated parts of the state.
Sources from river navigation department said no ferries were displaced from their route owing to the swift winds. They further said that ferry operations will continue despite a warning issued by IMD to fishermen not to venture into the sea.
“In case the IMD issues a warning against operation of ferry boats, we will stop immediately. For now, the ferry service will continue,” the official said. There are two ferry boats currently operational on the Panaji-Betim ferry route. The department also has two ferries on standby, which can be used to rescue passengers in case the plying ferries get stuck in the river.
A tug boat is also on standby at the river navigation department workshop to salvage any distressed ferry boat. Instances of deep incursion of seawater were also reported at Miramar in North Goa and at Betalbatim and Benaulim in South Goa. In Betalbatim, sources said, seawater came right up to a lifeguard tower.