Times News NetworkColva: A few spells of rain have again exposed persistent flooding at the Seraulim railway underpass, bringing traffic to a complete standstill and disrupting commuting between the two sides of the village.Built to ensure smooth vehicular movement and provide an uninterrupted alternative to the frequently closed railway crossing, the underpass was inundated after the showers, making it inaccessible to motorists and pedestrians. With the passage submerged, residents have been forced to use longer, time-consuming routes.Motorists are taking detours via the wholesale fish market or through Nuvem before joining NH 66 to reach Margao and nearby villages such as Colva, Betalbatim, and Benaulim. The diversions have significantly increased travel time, especially for daily commuters.During morning and afternoon peak hours, when train movement is high, students and office-goers are left with little choice but to cross the railway tracks near the church, raising safety and delay concerns.Residents said the flooding has become an annual monsoon occurrence despite repeated appeals for a permanent solution. They recalled that locals and the village panchayat had earlier pushed for a flyover near the underpass, but the proposal has not materialised.Last year, the panchayat urged the PWD and the railways to jointly work out a long-term solution to prevent monsoon flooding.Seraulim deputy sarpanch Leslie Dourado said the panchayat has written to Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas and the PWD seeking immediate action to pump out the accumulated water and restore traffic, but no response has been received so far.PWD assistant engineer Leslie Colaco said pumping is not feasible because the local water table remains extremely high, making it difficult to stop the underpass from filling during heavy rainfall. He said the PWD has written to the South Goa collector to close the underpass.
Seraulim underpass flooded after rainfall, leaving villagers stranded
