Low pressure-induced rains wreak havoc: Roads submerged, bridges collapse in Malkangiri, Kandhamal

Low pressure-induced torrential rains have wreaked havoc at several places across Odisha on Thursday.

Due to heavy rain in Malkangiri, MV-96 bridge along National Highway No 326 at Kalimela has been submerged. Flood water is reportedly flowing up to three to four feet above the bridge. 

As a result, communication from Malkangiri to Motu has been snapped. Hundreds of vehicles on both sides of the road near MV-96 bridge remained stranded. Security personnel of MV-96 police station have been allotted at the spot to keep a vigil on the situation.

Meanwhile, heavy rain for the last two days has thrown normal life out of gear in Kandhamal district. While the heavy rainfall has triggered the collapse of bridges in some places, roads in several places have also been submerged. As a result, road communication at many places in the district has been snapped.

The bridge over Salunki River connecting Nadikhanda Sahi and Dakapala has been submerged. Moreover, the kuchha road at Ratamaska under Phiringia block has been washed away while the bridge over Katramala canal collapsed due to the heavy rain. Many rivers in the district have been overflowing because of the rain fury. Mobile connection has been snapped at several places in the district as the towers have become defunct due to the rain-induced power cut.

“Road communication has been snapped in our area as roads have been submerged due to overflowing of rain water and collapse of the bridge in our area. We are stranded and helpless now,” said a resident of Dakapala.

Meanwhile, in view of the heavy rainfall, Bolangir district administration has declared holiday for all schools and Anganwadi centres in the district for today.