Goa issues red alert over heavy rains

The Goa government on Friday issued a red alert as heavy rains and strong winds triggered by the formation of cyclone Kyarr in the Arabian Sea has caused water logging in various parts of the state and road blockages due to uprooted trees.

In view of the alert, the Goa University has cancelled all examinations which were scheduled to be held on Friday and Saturday to a later date.

"Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places is very likely over coastal districts of Karnataka, Goa and South Konkan and isolated heavy rainfall over North Konkan during the next 24 hours," the Indian Meteorological Department said on Friday.

"Squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph is likely to prevail along and off Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Raigad districts of Maharashtra and Goa and 40 to 50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph, is likely to prevail along and off remaining coastal districts of Maharashtra, north Karnataka coast and northeast Arabian Sea off the Gujarat coast during next 24 hours," it added.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said that disaster management teams were on standby in case of any untoward incident.

The state's Fisheries Department has also directed fishermen not to venture into the sea for the next 48 hours.IANS