Heavy rain throws normal life out of gear in Odisha: 1 dead, 3 injured; flood threat looms large

Torrential rain induced by low pressure for the last couple of days has thrown life out of gear in various parts of Odisha causing landslides and waterlogging in several places.

While a person lost his life in Jajpur district, three persons were injured in Bargarh district.

Floodwater has entered houses while bridges were washed away and educational institutions shut at several places. Rivers like Baitarani, Bansadhara, Nagabali and Jalaka rivers have crossed the danger marks at several places.

Heavy rain lashed especially western Odisha and north Odisha in the last few days. Bijepur block in Bargarh district recorded the highest amount of 185 mm rainfall. The intensity of the rainfall was so much that rainwater entered Bijepur hospital causing a lot of trouble for the patients. Overflowing rainwater also entered Lord Shiv temple at Budapali.

Communication was halted along the Bijepur- Bairakhpali road as water flowed two feet above. A petrol pump at Laumunda was waterlogged. As many as three persons in the area were injured after a wall collapsed following rain. They were admitted to the nearby hospital in critical condition. One among them was shifted to Burla Hospital as his condition deteriorated. Schools and colleges were shut in the district today as there is a possibility of more rain.

Similarly, normal life has been hit hard due to incessant rainfall at Khadiala block in Nuapada district. While Khadiala experienced 72 mm of rain yesterday, Sinapalli and Boden blocks witnessed 75 and 69 mm of rainfall respectively on Wednesday. Water is flowing above two ft on the Kandapada bridge in Sinapali block halting road communication. Water is also flowing above several other bridges over many rivers and canals at Sargimunda, Khalia Bhata and Kalusiria. Hundreds of vehicles on both sides of the roads were stranded.

Meanwhile, Baitarani has breached the danger level mark at Akhuapada in Bhadrak district on Thursday. Flood water in the river is overflowing at 19.88m against 17.83m. Several paddy fields in the area have been inundated with the overflowing water of the river. Moreover, Solamapur, Rahania, Malada, Napanga, Kurigaon, Bandola, Madiali and Jhutana villages in Bhandaripokhari block have been waterlogged.

Similarly, Dobala, Sohada, Khadipada, Anandpur, Karada, Padhani and Arjunapur villages under Dhamnagar block have been waterlogged. As Baitarani is in spate, the flood water in the river has also been flowing through its tributaries. As a result, Bhandaripokhari has been completely cut-off from Jajpur.

Residents of Ranpur, Gorapur, Mukundapur, Bandala, Mulapal under Korei block are in a state of panic as the areas have been waterlogged and water level in Baitarani is still rising. The block administration has made elaborate arrangements to meet any kind of situation arising out of flood.

Batarani is also flowing above the danger mark at Anandpur in Keonjhar district. As rain is still continuing in the upper catchment area, flood threat is imminent in the river. Gobindpur, Chapundia, Samana, Kadamdihi villages in the block have been waterlogged. Water is flowing above five ft along Ana-Samana road near Barahipur in Hatadihi block. Raghabpur, Aitipur, Nuagaon and Amrutpur villages have been completely cut off from the mainland.

Saharapada in Keonjhar district has recorded the highest amount of 276.8mm rainfall. While a person in the district has lost his life, as many as 208 houses have collapsed in the flood water so far. At least 2000 people from 13 blocks, 72 gram panchayats and 25 wards of five municipalities in the district have been affected by the flood. More than 300 people have been shifted from the low lying areas.

Water level is also rising in Mahanadi river due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchment area. Around 7,25,000 cusecs of water are currently flowing per second at Mundali. Around eight lakh cusecs of water are expected to flow at Mundali at 12 pm on Thursday. 

The Odisha Special Relief Commission (SRC) has issued an advisory for the Collectors of seven districts- Angul, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Khordha, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara to remain alert about possible flood threats. 

As many as 8 NDRF teams, 13 ODRAF Teams and 23 Additional Fire teams have been deployed in 15 districts-Bhadrak, Jajpur, Sambalpur, Keoonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Sonepur, Boudh, Kandhamal, Balasore, Cuttack, Puri, Khordha, Jagatsinhgpur and Kendrapada for SAR operation. 

Meanwhile, prohibitory order under Section 144 of CrPC has been clamped in Singhanatha Temple and Maa Bhattarika Pitha in Badamba of Cuttack district in view of the heavy flow of water in the Mahanadi river.