Incessant rain has wreaked havoc in various parts of Odisha. Severe rainfall has triggered waterlogging and as a result, road communication has been snapped at various places in Malkangiri, Gajapati and Sambalpur districts.
Due to heavy downpours for the last three days, water is flowing more than two feet over Kankorakanda, Potteru and MV 90 bridges and road communication along the National Highway has been completely snapped. Hundreds of vehicles on both sides of the road have been stranded.
Moreover, a culvert near Tarlakota village has been submerged due to overflow of water and road communication has been snapped from Malkangiri and Balimela.
Almost all the rivers are in spate in the district. Though the rain has subsided a little bit, sources said it will take some more time for the situation to be normalised.
“Road communication has been completely snapped and we have been stranded for the last two days. If it rains more, then the district will experience heavy flood. We are facing this kind of situation every year. However, the construction of the bridge is yet to take place,” rued a resident of Malkangiri.
The local residents have expressed their dissatisfaction over the development.
“Though a work order for the construction of the bridge has already been issued, the delay in the work has increased the plight of the people in the area,” said another resident in Malkangiri.
In Gajapati district, a temporary bridge has been washed away at Dalimbapur village in Kerandi Gram Panchayat. More than 3,000 people from three villages have been cut off from the mainland.
Heavy rainfall triggered a landslide in Lakshmi Dungri hill along National Highway No 53 in Gajapati district. As a result, plying of vehicles on one side of the highway has been stopped.
With IMD forecasting more rain for the next three days in several parts of Odisha, things are going to be worse.