Rain hits normal life in Western Odisha, brings worries for farmers

Cloudy weather and light to moderate rain have disrupted normal life in several parts of Odisha on Wednesday. The condition is more acute in Western Odisha as several districts including Bargarh, Sundargarh and Sonepur have been experiencing rainfall activities since Tuesday.

As per India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, Sambalpur recorded highest 21.1 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, followed by 24.2 in Atabira and 21.6 mm in Nayagarh.

Waterlogging conditions were reported from Binika in Sonepur following incessant rainfall. Similar scenes have also been reported from Bargarh.

The rain has also played spoilsport for the ongoing world-famous Dhanu Yatra. People faced inconvenience due to waterlogging conditions at the Meena Bazar at George High School field.

Farmers in several districts are the worst hit by the untimely rainfall. Many of them are now staring at a crop loss. In Jharsuguda, the year’s harvest of farmers in the form of paddy is now lying under the open sky at Laikera block.

Though paddy procurement has started on January 13 through mandis, bulk of the paddy stock is lying in the open at Rengalbeda by the Laikera cooperative society as there is no permanent place to store the paddy. The farmers are trying to protect the paddy by using polythene sheets and other available options.