[Translated by the author, Dr. Nandakumar Kamat, from the Marathi original ‘Konkanpralaya’, first published on 30 May 2004 in the Daily Gomantak, Panjim, Goa, Sunday supplement ‘Shabdasohala’]
Initially the seismologists thought that the epicenter of that earthquake could be the area around the Koyna dam. But considering the experience of Latur, they began immediate and detail investigation. On Richter scale the tremors measured only six and the quake had lasted hardly for twenty seconds. Tremors of lesser intensity were still getting recorded. Napoleon Lobo and Janardan Sawant had gone for a fishing trip in the Bay of Marmagoa. Near Sunchi reef they had spotted an unusual piece of rock projecting from the surface from the surrounding water. Perhaps a new island might be emerging -- they thought. Four houses on the slopes of Altinho, Panjim had collapsed. This mishap had caused panic among the Panjimites. Landslides close to many roads in Goa had caused motor vehicle accidents. Residents of Salvador da Mundo, Betul, Balli, Poladpur, Harnem, Mangaon, Kudal, Konkan and Goa were stunned to find their regular village wells unexpectedly overflowing. They couldn’t explain the phenomenon. The Galjibaga coastline had been hit by unprecedented dance of turbulent sea. Most of the beach was eroded. Giant waves had also eroded the Anjuna coastline. Advocate Gomes had a palatial bungalow on the banks of Mandovi estuary at Ribandar. He noticed that the walls were slowly sinking. People had thronged to Surla village on Goa’s border with Karnataka to witness the newly formed hot water spring. It strongly smelled of sulphur. A few geologists had also rushed there. But the smart local people had not permitted them to carry out any research. The Deccan trap found on the north east of Goa had been formed 65 million years ago. The western ghats known as Sahyadris were born 45 million years ago, but the geologists were convinced that this orogenic process had halted or slowed down. The west coast fault located in the Arabian sea runs parallel to the coastline of Goa and Konkan. The rivers in Goa show a zig zag course on account of ancient tectonic activities. There was an atmosphere of gloom in the Indian geophysical institute. The seismographs were clearly indicating the possibility of a major earthquake. Commands had been issued to measure the declination or the microscopic movement of the Konkan coastline using laser altimetry. The famous seismologist Dr. Harsh Gupta had issued a warning to remain vigilant for 24 hours. It was June, 2007. The monsoon had begun on time. The Konkan belt was having a party. It was bumper crop of Alphonso mangoes. The Ratnagiri-Kolhapur railway link had become operational. Work on the new multilane west coast highway had finally begun. New technology had reduced landslides on the Konkan railway route. But on June 14 th, the Padi tunnel in Canacona developed a huge linear fissure. Mud and water began leaking through it endangering railway travel. The fissure looked like a clean knife cut. On war footing the repair works were in full swing. So far all these events scattered in space and time were not co-related and none had suspected any link to the anticipated earthquake. After anchoring his trawler to the Vasco fishing jetty, Napoleon Lobo spoke to Janardhan Sawant- ‘ the sea appears mischievous. I can see a strange colour in the water. It it as if something is churning at the bottom the sea.’ Accepting Lobo’s observations, Janardhan Sawant remarked-‘ I remember the strange rock which we had encountered. What do you think about it?. Don’t you think that it came out of the sea like a whale jaw?.’ Lobo noticed the overcast southwestern horizon. A huge bank of oddly shaped clouds was forming. “I fear that a storm or may be a cyclone is coming this way’. Sawant did not agree with him. He said-‘ Napolean, if that was the case then they would have furled a red signal flag at the jetty much in advance. Where is the flag?’ While they were speaking, the bottoms of the Indian ocean were in turmoil. A process which was thought to have slowed down million of years ago, had become active again. A chain of dormant volcano was close to the Reunion islands. These were ovens of the earth, now almost extinguished by time. But Earth is a peculiar, unpredictable planet. Although detail maps of the ocean floors were available, there was insufficient information from ocean core drilling project. In absence of any reliable global data about the composition of the ocean floor sub-surface, the scientist believed that, it could be considered stable. 17 June 2007. The government wheels started moving. Precautionary orders were issued in anticipation of the earthquake. Panjim saw a huge rally which educated the citizens on disaster preparedness. Margao, Marmagoa, Ponda, Usgao, Karapur, Kalapur, Gimonem, Amonem -- the meetings at all these places warned the people about the impending earthquake. But nobody knew the magnitude of the coming disaster or its’ timing or what was expected of them to deal with such a situation. The television channels were constantly churning features, which made contradictory claims and created confusion. Some said that a mega earthquake was going to hit the west coast. Some others claimed that a supercyclone was brewing somewhere. 21 June 2007. Kolaba, Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Panjim observatories recorded tremors of six magnitude. The seismologists were more or less successful now to identify the unstable region. The trouble spot was towards the north of Reunion islands. Suddenly that region had become seismically reactivated. Immediately messages flew. Supercomputers began crunching numbers and data. Probability maps were ready based on models of the sinking of the ocean floor and its’ impact on the land. The Laccadives island groups faced the biggest threat followed by the islands of Seychelles and Reunion. Then was the turn of India’s west coast. 23 June 2007. The President of India issued a declaration proclaiming civil emergency on the west coast from Vapi to Mangalore. ‘Don’t panic’ the appeals told the citizens. Tourists in Goa had retreated. All new bookings had been cancelled. Goa was under the cloud of invisible anxiety and tension. Fear of the unknown was in the air. 24 June 2007. The Chief minister Mr. Mansamrat presided over an all party meeting at Miramar. Politicians otherwise at loggerheads with each other found themselves brought together by the approaching calamity. They resolved to face the disaster unitedly. 25 June 2007. A new volcano exploded in the southern Indian ocean near Reunion and began belching fire and molten lava. There were mild tremors. But the new Volcano literally shook the global community. When the first images from the submersible were telecast-people could assess the seriousness of the event. There was danger ahead. Napoleon Lobo spoke to Janardhan Sawant: 'My god..I don’t think that the signs are good for Goa. We need a change Jana... The rain has not yet picked its rhythm -- so why not go for picnic?.” Janardhan responded enthusiastically. His friend stayed at Paroda. The Paroda hillock was very close to his house. “Lobo, listen.. I would show you the famous Chandranath hill. You can really enjoy Goa from its’ beautiful summit.”. Lobo had heard about this place but never had any opportunity to visit it. After they arranged for the safety of their trawlers, Lobo and Sawant drove towards Paroda. Morning of 26 th June. There was a light drizzle. Slowly it became a torrent. Then it started raining cats and dogs. People began running for shelter everywhere as the rain picked up momentum. Panjim recorded 12 inches rainfall within four hours. At three PM the Observatory issued a special weather bulletin. It said that very heavy rainfall was possible in Konkan and Goa for the next 48 hours causing flooding of low lying areas and flash floods. On their way to Paroda, Lobo and Sawant had no idea of this bulletin. They reached Paroda. They purchased food at Quepem. Then they located the house of Janardhan’s friend. They couldn’t find him there. He had already gone to watch the rain from Paroda hill. So, the duo decided to visit the Paroda hill. They drove as sheets of rain beat on their windshield. The rain had erected a thick curtain around the hill. But Lobo and Sawant’s Toyota jeep was strong enough to take them to the summit. They reached near the Chandranath temple as the faint Sun began sinking on the western horizon. Lobo first noticed the fierce waters of the Arabian sea. It was something different and unfamiliar to him. He could not help it and said’ “Janardhan, I doubt if this rain would ever take rest now..’. Almost at the same time, there was a flood like situation near Panjim’s Mandovi hotel. People were forced to enter the Hotel. They were treated to complimentary cakes and biscuits. Nobody noticed the Sunset. The night was approaching. Suddenly the power went off. It was beginning of a nightmarish night. The Navy helicopters were flying sorties in the darkness of the night. The wireless center was deluged by appeals for help from flooded areas. Vasishthi, Savitri, Kundalika, Gangavali,Kali, Mandovi all major western flowing rivers were in spate. The water had broken all the barriers and bundhs. Sal river had flooded Salcete. From Margao to Assolna the valley was completely flooded. People from Majorda and Cansaulim climbed the Remedios hill, but they had a mass panic attack after they looked down towards the Salcete plains. Upto Cavelloshim-Betul, there was water, water everywhere. 26 June 2007. Several small volcanoes erupted to form a chain in the Indian ocean. The surface temperature was now rising. The winds started blowing. It was past 6 PM. One of the newly formed volcanoes exploded with massive force. All the seismographs in the world recorded the tremors. Relatively the magnitude was small. But it had catastrophic power. The real danger was from the giant Tsunami waves created by the volcanic eruption. With every explosion, a new Tsunami wave front, ending to reach a crest of 100 metres was forming and then these raced towards the coastline. These waves had immense destructive power. Afternoon, June 27 th. Paroda. Sawant exclaimed: ‘Lobo, look there!’. Both of them turned to watch the coastline of Goa with horror. From the southwest, they saw giant waves towering to a height equalling more than the combined length of ten coconut trees collapsing on Goa’s coast and fully eroding it. The Tsunamis did not spare the rest of the Konkan and the west coast. The ocean had ultimately snatched back the land which was once called-‘Parashuramkshetra’, 'Gomantak’ and 'Shurparaka’ . It was Konkan’s day of apocalypse! +++ the end+++ ------------------------------------------------------------------- To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from Goa-Research-Net ------------------------------------------------------------------- * Send us a brief self-intro to justify your interest in this "specialized" forum. This should be sent to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or to [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] (NOT goa-research-net@goacom.com) * Leave SUBJECT blank * On first line of the BODY of your message, type: subscribe goa-research-net [EMAIL PROTECTED] or unsubscribe goa-research-net [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------------------------------------------------