As heavy rains continued this week in tourist’s paradise Goa, many parts of the coastal state, including Panaji, are facing waterlogging issues. On average, the state has received more rains than any other state in the country this monsoon season. On Monday, widespread rain was recorded across the state, with the capital Panaji witnessing 63 mm of rainfall.
Goa has received more than 1700 mm of rainfall so far from June 1, which is more than any state or union territory in India. Panaji has received 1754 mm of rain from June 1 to July 23— nearly 200 mm more than normal for this time of the year. Valpoi, a city in north Goa received over 170 mm rainfall on Sunday. On Monday, maximum rainfall of 144 mm was recorded at Dabolim, 30 km from Panaji. Eight out of eleven monitoring stations across Goa recorded more than 60 mm rainfall on Monday.
As the monsoon trough gradually shifts southwards from Wednesday, widespread rains are expected to continue across Goa. The regional met centre has issued an orange alert to be prepared for very heavy rainfall at isolated places in both north and south Goa till Wednesday. From Thursday, even though the intensity of precipitation may drop slightly, heavy rains are very likely to continue at isolated places across the state.
The met department issued warnings of rough to very rough sea conditions due to strong winds at 40-50 kmph over southwest and central Arabian sea. Fishers are advised not to venture into the sea for the next five days. As the forecasts suggest continued rains for the next ten days, relief from incessant rains is not in sight for the state.
Reports suggest that despite the heavy rains, a large number of domestic tourists have continued to visit the coastal state. The weekend witnessed the tourism hubs packed with tourists despite the waterlogging and potholes on roads. Last week, a tourist reportedly drowned at the Sinquerim beach in Candolim. The tourist was a part of a ten-member group who allegedly ignored the warnings from the lifeguard on duty and entered the sea. The lifeguard agency has issued advisory urging tourists not to venture into the sea or rocky cliffs and hills along the shoreline.
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