Third landslide along NH66 in Pernem in past three days

Panaji: On Tuesday morning, a landslide near Naibag-Poraskade in Pernem blocked the national highway, causing traffic disruptions. This is the third landslide along NH66 in the last three days. The retaining wall collapsed, with boulders and mud crashing down from the hill, forcing both lanes of the highway to be shut. The authorities diverted the traffic, via the old highway.
Congress said that the highway expansion work done by M Venkata Rao Infra Pvt Ltd is substandard and poses significant risks to public safety.
“Anticipating backlash from the people for a landslide along NH66, MVR Infra owned by a BJP minister’s son-in-law, may have tried to block the road to stop Union minister of road and transport Nitin Gadkari from coming to Pernem,” Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Amit Patkar said.
Patkar also sought an appointment with Gadkari during his visit to Goa later this week. “We will raise this issue with the Union minister,” he said.
Meanwhile, due to continuous rain, there was a flood-like situation at Nagzar, Kasarvanem, and Chandel areas of Pernem.
Many roads remained inundated until the evening, causing inconvenience to the locals. The frustrated residents of Kasarvanem demanded govt construct a bridge after the main culvert was flooded to permanently resolve the issue.