Heavy rain, wind knock out power in South Goa

COLVA/MARGAO: Heavy showers accompanied by thunder and lightning left a trail of destruction in South Goa Monday night.
Salcete taluka was without power for more than two hours immediately after the skies opened up.
Sources in the department revealed that Xeldem power station, which provides electricity to most of South Goa, developed problems due to the downpour. Selaulim treatment plant was also affected.
Timely intervention of chief electrical engineer (CEC) Steven Fernandes who co-ordinated with the various power stations and their sub-stations helped in restoring power supply by midnight.
Till late Tuesday evening, power officials informed that power supply to the hotels along the Salcete coastline was still not restored as the high tension (HT) line was under repair.
Junior engineers attached to the Carmona and Benaulim sub-station revealed that many poles were damaged as a result of high speed winds and trees falling on the supply lines.
Carmona junior engineer Mahesh Gowda informed that personnel have been working through the night and day to rectify number of faults in his jurisdiction. A fire official also informed that since the night of May 22, they recorded nine calls from Salcete coastal villages.
Most of the calls were regarding trees branches falling either on houses or along their roads and path.
Incidents of trees getting uprooted and falling on roads were reported in various parts of Sanguem, Curchorem, Sanvordem and Quepem talukas. At Guddemol, Sanvordem, a tree fell on a stationary truck. In Curchorem, as the work of laying sewage lines and underground power cabling are under way, excavated mud lying on the roadsides got washed onto the roads thereby making them slippery and thus posing a threat to road users.
Many pockets in this part had to go without power supply the entire night, restored as it was only early morning. Meanwhile, gusty winds brought down trees in some parts of Bicholm taluka on Tuesday night. Power supply was also disrupted.