Malkangiri rain fury: Odisha SRC directs vehicle ban on submerged roads, bridges amid heavy rainfall

Amid heavy to very heavy rainfall in the district, the Odisha Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) on Sunday directed Malkangiri Collector to take necessary steps and strictly prohibit the movement of vehicles in submerged roads and bridges till the water recedes.

The direction comes in the wake of heavy rainfall triggered by depression over the Odisha coast in several parts of the state over the past couple of days. Meanwhile, the Depression weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area over Coastal Odisha.

Nuapada received an average rainfall of 96.1mm, followed by Subarnapur 73.6mm, and Boudh received 66.5mm of rainfall during the last 24 hours. The highest rainfall recorded in the last 24 hours is 154.4mm in Athamallik block of Angul district.

Five blocks (Athamallik of Angul district, Padmapur of Bargarh district, Boden, Sinapali of Nuapada district, Dunguripali of Subarnapur district) have received over 100 mm of rainfall.

The Odisha SRC has directed Malkangiri Collector to evacuate people from low-lying areas if required. Apart from this, directions have also been issued to conduct an assessment of the damage to public and private properties after the receding of the water.