“Restoration work underway”: Goa CM Pramod Sawant inspects landslide situation on Mumbai-Goa highway

Panaji (Goa) [India], July 11 (ANI): Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant inspected Mumbai-Goa National Highway 66, on Wednesday, which was hit by a landslide a day ago amid heavy rains in Malpem.

Speaking to ANI, Goa CM Pramod Sawant said, “A major landslide occurred yesterday and two days ago here. The Government of Goa, the National Highway Authority, had already given a diversion off the road. For the recent landslide, on behalf of the Government of Goa, I have spoken to Nitin Gadkari, and have also written to him, and we are making inquiries through institutes like IIT Mumbai.”

He further said that the restoration work is being carried out through the contractors.

Earlier, in view of the alert for rains issued by the India Meteorological Department of India (IMD), Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday announced that all the schools from pre-primary to the 12th standard will remain closed on Monday.

The Chief Minister said that this order is only for schools, as, all government offices and everything else will function as per their schedule.

Furthermore, he informed that the 80 people who were stranded at the waterfall, has been rescued by the team of emergency service officials.

Speaking to ANI, Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant said, “The Director of Education has been asked to issue a circular that there will be a holiday on Monday as a red alert has been declared and due to this, all the schools of Goa from pre-primary to the 12th standard will remain closed tomorrow.”

He further informed, “All the roads are overflowed, and water has been filled everywhere. Due to this, we have declared a holiday for one day. But, it is not a government holiday, government offices and everything else will remain open as usual. My request to all the people is that there is heavy rainfall in all the places of Goa and hence one should not go out of the house without any need but only if there is an emergency work… Eighty people who were stranded at the waterfall have been rescued…”