Incessant rain brings southern Odisha to its knees; rivers in spate

Bhubaneswar: Due to a well-marked low pressure-turned-depression over Northwest Bay of Bengal off West Bengal and north Odisha coast, several places in Odisha especially southern districts have been battered by torrential rains leading to a flood-like situation.

Several districts like Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Koraput, Rayagada and Kalahandi have received heavy to very heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours leading to widespread flooding and rise in water levels of many rivers. Roads and bridges in several parts have been washed away snapping connectivity and throwing normal life out of gear.

"Kalahandi district is worst affected after recording 139mm rainfall in past 24 hours. Koraput, Nabarangpur, Gajapati, Rayagada and Malkangiri districts are also affected by incessant rain," deputy relief commissioner of Odisha said.

Two deaths have been reported from Kalahandi & Koraput district allegedly on account of heavy rain, the deputy relief commissioner added.

Sandul, Reta, Tel rivers are in spate following incessant rains triggering flood in many low lying areas in Kalahandi districts. Due to flow of floodwater in Sandul River, communication on Rupra Road has come to a grinding halt. Hundreds of villagers of Boria, Bisidi and Nagapula have been marooned and cut off.

In Koraput district as many as five gates of the Machhkund reservoir have been opened to release flood waters. Sources said at least 18,000 cusec water is being released from the reservoir. Several areas in Kotpad and Koraput blocks of the district have been marooned while vehicular communication has been snapped following landslide on Ranigarh-Koraput road.

Several low lying areas in Malkangiri like Korakunda, MV-37, Pangam, Bonda Ghati and Mankad Jhola have been cut off due to flooding following rise in water level in rivers. The water level in Saptadhara River has increased substantially disrupting communication with different areas like Kalimela and Khairaput.

In Rayagada, Bansadhara River was reportedly flowing two feet above the ground near Ranipinda in Muniguda block leading to a complete breakdown in vehicular communication to Kalahandi. According to sources, hundreds of vehicles have been stranded on both sides of the road. Following incessant rainfall the water level in Nagabali and Kalyani rivers have increased in last 24 hours. Heavy rain has also reportedly destroyed as many as 10 houses in Dhamunipanga, Kulumuin, Sunakhandi and Alginiguda panchayats while standing crops have also been covered with floodwater in several areas.

Due to a landslide near Lakhmipur-Tayapat, train services have been hit on Rayagada-Koraput section.

Similarly, train services were affected in Titlagarh- Rayagada section as rainwater washed away part of a railway bridge on Narla Road- Rupra Road. Several trains have been cancelled while many others have been diverted, informed sources.

Likewise in Kandhamal, commuters had to face lot of troubles after heavy rainfall and thunderstorm uprooted trees on Daringbadi-Brahmanigaon road. Communication to other areas like Mohana, Adaba, Paralakhemundi have been badly hit due to adverse weather.