The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a 'Red' alert for Goa on Sunday and predicted heavy rain in the coastal state over the period of next 24 hours. The IMD predicted “moderate to heavy spells of rain accompanied with winds of speed 40 to 50 kilometres per hour gusting to 60 kmph," in the region. The weather agency said that clouds were present over Pernem, Tiswadi, Bardez, Bicholim and Sattari (all in North Goa district) talukas of the state, reported news agency PTI. Goa has been witnessing heavy rain in parts of the state since Saturday.
The IMD in a statement said, “More clouds are approaching from the Arabian Sea. More talukas are also likely to get affected as clouds are moving generally in the north-eastern direction.”
Following the warning, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) activated its control rooms in the North as well as South Goa districts. The SDMA advised people not to wander into the waterlogged or flood-prone areas and said, “Extremely heavy rains are forecast for Goa in the next 24 hours. Members of the public are advised not to venture into waterlogged or flood-prone areas,” PTI reported.
The state government-appointed lifesaving agency, Drishti Marine, advised people to not venture into the sea because of the rough weather conditions.
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IMD earlier on Saturday also issued a 'Red' alert for the state in the wake of incessant rainfall. As per IMD, Goa on Saturday received 'Heavy to Very Heavy rainfall, including Extremely Heavy rainfall'. More than 204.4 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in the state yesterday.
While cautioning about the sea condition, IMD earlier said that rough to very rough sea condition is expected over the East-central Arabian Sea. It advised citizens to stay off the Maharashtra-Goa-Karnataka coasts.