Unseasonal rains lash Goa, dampens Diwali festival eve revelry

Panaji, Nov 7 (UNI) With unseasonal heavy downpour lashing Goa, the tourist state was plunged into darkness for about five hours today, dampening the Diwali festival eve revelry.

The heavy rains snapped a 100 kilovolt (kV) incoming feeder powerline at Ponda at around 1600 hrs, causing the blackout. They also led to water clogging at several low-lying areas and washing away of scores of life-sized effigies of Narakasura, the lord of evil, this evening.

As dark clouds loomed overhead amidst lightning and thunderbolts, people huddled themselves together in their homes and offices.

Several junctions witnessed traffic jams and at several places, trees were uprooted at roadsides under the impact of heavy gales.

The rains affected several businesses such as the lantern and firecracker sellers also sweetmeat shops.

The people, however, heaved a sigh of relief as they were devoid of ear-splitting high decible noise blared out by speakers kept next to the Narakasura effigies, which are burnt later at midnight by the drunken revellers.

The people thanked the Nature for sparing them of the unpleasant experience. Some politicians donate huge sums of money for organising the effigy-burning shows in order to safeguard their vote banks.

At some places like St Inez, the residents however had a mixed experience, as some revellers blared out western music after the rains receded at 2100 hrs.

The effigy-burning at midnight heralds the victory of the good over the evil ahead of the Diwali festival (the festival of lights), which will be celebrated across the state tomorrow.

UNI