Bicholim: The Bicholim Fire Station responded to around 25 rescue calls between Saturday night and Sunday evening as heavy rain and strong winds caused widespread damage across Bicholim and nearby areas. Officials estimated the damage at around Rs 1.5 lakh, while firefighters saved property worth nearly Rs 20 lakh.Watch Room Operator (WRO) Sanjay Shetkar said firefighters worked continuously through the night and day, responding to one emergency after another without any rest.A major incident involved a huge mango tree crashing onto a jeep belonging to farmers and equipment suppliers and a car owned by Makarand Amonkar of Gaonkarwada, Narvem, causing extensive damage. The Ganesh immersion shed at Haturlim suffered damage estimated at Rs 40,000. Houses belonging to Paresh Mandrekar of Tulshimala, Sanquelim, Gajanan Narvekar of Sanquelim, Shrimati Bhiskute of Bhatwadi, Nanoda, and Satish Gaonkar of Sesa Colony were also damaged by falling trees. A shelter shed at Amona was damaged during the storm.Tree falls were reported on roads at Kudchirem, Dodamarg, Sal, Bhatwadi-Nanoda, Shirgao and Advalpal, with firefighters clearing debris and restoring traffic. Rescue operations were led by leading firefighters Rajan Parab and Pralhad Desai, along with 11 firefighters, under the guidance of fire station officer Rahul Desai.Strong winds also ripped off roof sheets at the Bicholim vegetable market, flooding the premises and damaging vegetables. Vendors later covered the damaged roof with polythene sheets and resolved not to pay “Sopo tax” until the municipality repaired the market rooftopPhoto captions: 1)A jeep and a car damaged after a huge mango tree fell on them at Narvem. 2)Roof sheets blown away from the Bicholim Vegetable Market due to strong winds..
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