Incessant rain triggers flood-like situation across Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Incessant rain continued to lash Odisha triggering flood-like situation in many places today.

According to reports, many low-lying areas in Bhawanipatna of Kalahandi district were inundated following heavy rainfall . Hati and Tel rivers are in spate leaving as many as 15 villages of Lanjigarh block cut-off from other parts of the district.

A person is reportedly missing after being swept away in Nagabali river in Kalahandi district. The district administration has started distributing tarpaulins and dry food in the area. The officials have asked residents of these areas to move to temporary shelters and safer places.

In Rayagada, heavy downpour brought life to standstill and left many villages in Bissamcuttack block marooned. The rainwater has submerged many villages of Paikadakuluguda and Thuapadi panchayats as well.

On the other hand, a culvert on the Gunupur-Gumuda road under Serma area was washed away in the rain snapping communication on the route, reports added.

The incessant rain since Saturday has inundated acres of farmland in Aska and Kabisuryanagar area in Ganjam district.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar today issued thunderstorm accompanied with heavy rainfall and lightning alert for 15 districts - Khurda, Puri, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Kalahandi, Malkangiri till 12.30 PM.

Locals are having a harrowing time in Puri town as many areas including Sea beach road, Abakash Lane, Khaki Matha Lane, Nua Sahi, Gundicha Temple premises and Matiapada have submerged in the flood water.

The 50-feet boundary wall of the Markandey Tank and an electric pole near the tank reportedly collapsed due to heavy rain. Meanwhile, fire personnel installed pumps and discharged excess water in many places in Puri.