According to sources, road communication has been disrupted at different places in Malkangiri district as water is flowing above road.
Similarly, vehicular traffic between Malkangiri and Balimela has been affected as road at MV-11, Korukonda and MV-37 are inundated.
On the other hand, bridges at Kangurukonda and Potteru were submerged following which vehicular traffic was affected between Malkangiri and Motu.
Road communication between Malkangiri and Chhattisgarh was also affected as Challanguda bridge was submerged.
Water level of Balimela reservoir has increased to 15,015 feet whereas its water retaining capacity is 15,018 feet. Therefore, authorities of the reservoir will open two gates at 11 am. Sources said after reviewing the situation a decision will be taken on whether more gates will be opened.
Meanwhile, patients at the Janabai health centre faced hardship as water entered into the hospital.
On the other hand, CM Naveen Patnaik has sanctioned gratuitous relief for seven days at Rs 60 per day per person and Rs 45/day for children below 12 years in the affected Malkangiri district and directed the district administration to reach out to affected and extend all assistance.
To tackle the situation, the district administration has deployed ODRAF teams in the affected areas and opened a control room.
Reportedly, maximum rainfall of 403 meters has been recorded in Korakunda whereas 265.4 metres downpour was recorded in Malkangiri town.
Following incessant rain Jalaka river was flowing at 6.10 metre today morning near Mathani in Jaeswar of Balasore district where the danger mark is 5.50 metre.
Due to the cyclonic storm 'DAYE' the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more rains in Balasore, Mayurbhanj and Bhadrak districts. Rain has been continuing in these districts since midnight of Wednesday, sources said.
Authorities of Kolab dam in Koraput have opened two gates of reservoir following heavy rain on upper catchment areas.
Meanwhile, cyclone 'DAYE' is lay centred in east-south direction, 65 km away from Titlagarh, causing heavy downpour in southern and interior parts of the State.
In the next 12 hours, intensity of the cyclonic storm will slow down, predicted the Met department.
According to sources, 14 fishermen in two boats had gone into the deep sea on September 20, 2018. But the onset of cyclone DAYE rendered it impossible for the fishermen to return. Thereafter their two boats - Nirman-06 and Omm Maa Parvati- were stranded in the turbulent sea.
On being informed about the incident by other fishermen and fishing organizations; coast guards, armed with the newly commissioned offshore patrol vessel Sujay, swung into action and rescued all the 14 fishermen safely the following day.
The health condition of the rescued fishermen is reported to be normal.
While communication to places including Kalimela, Padia, Motu, Balimela, MV-11, MV-37 and Korkanda have been cut-off, acres of farmland still remain submerged in flood water due to a 50-feet breach in Satiguda canal in Malkangiri.
Sources said National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have been deployed in different areas of districts for relief and rescue operations.
Meanwhile, the incessant rains have also resulted in the rise in water level of different rivers flowing through Balasore district.
Reportedly, two gates each of Sunei Dam and Kala Dam have been opened as water level in Budhabalanga and Jalaka rivers is flowing above the danger mark.
While Budhabalanga River is currently flowing at 8.18 metres near Baruni Bridge against the danger mark of 8.13 metres, Jalaka River is flowing at 6.51 metres near Mathani as compared to the danger mark of 5.80 metres.
As per reports, around 7,000 cusec of flood water per second is being released from the Sunei Dam which has resulted in inundation of low lying areas of the district.
Many panchayats including Mathani, Baharda, Dadhahansa, Gadapaeda, Barunagadia, Chakurai, Darada of Basta block have been severely affected. Similarly, Srirampur and Rasulpur panchayats in Sadar block have been affected due to the rise is river levels.
Road communication was completely disrupted at Pejagala Chatana, which is stated to be the lifeline between Basta-Baliapala, due to the flood waters.
Meanwhile, the district administration has taken adequate steps to curb out the situation. Hundreds of people residing in low lying areas of the district have been evacuated to safer places, informed Balasore district collector.
On the other hand, Baitarani River has also crossed the danger mark (17.83m) at Akhuapada in Bhadrak with the current water level at 18.02 metres.
The cyclone crossed Odisha coast near Gopalpur in the early on Friday.
It has caused heavy to very heavy rainfall in Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts.
Tribal-dominated district of Malkangiri has been the worst affected.
Several rivers in the district including Pangam, Saptadhara, Korukonda were flowing above danger-level while road communication between Malkangiri and Chhattisgarh has been disrupted, an official said.
With water crossing danger level in Balimela reservoir in Malkangiri district, four gates of the reservoir have been opened, said the official.
Reviewing the rainfall situation, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday sanctioned gratuitous relief for seven days at Rs 60 per day per adult and Rs 45 per day for children below 12 years in the Malkangiri district.
Patnaik also directed the district administration to reach out to those affected and extend all assistance to them.
Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi said Malkangiri district received 166.25 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours since Thursday.
He said 150 persons were evacuated from Koteru village to safe places while steps were being taken to provide relief material to them.
Due to incessant rain in the upper catchment area, the Kolab Dam authorities in Koraput have opened two gates of the reservoir on Friday.
While the cyclonic storm has weakened into a deep depression and lay over south interior Odisha and neighbourhood, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at few places over the state.
The Met department has advised fishermen to not venture into sea along and off Odisha coast during the next 24 hours till Saturday.
The state government has also instructed officials to be on the vigil to tackle any emergency situation.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have been deployed in different districts.
One NDRF team each has been deployed in Kalahandi, Rayagada, Gajapati, Puri, Nayagarh and Kandhamal districts with a total 17 boats and other emergency equipment.
One ODRAF team each has been deployed in Ganjam, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts. Fire service units in the respective districts were deployed for search and rescue work wherever required.
The holiday of all government offices has been cancelled in the affected districts.
The cyclonic storm "DAYE" over northwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestward with a speed of about 23 kmph and crossed south Odisha and adjoining Andhra Pradesh coast close to Gopalpur in the early hours of Friday, Director, Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, H R Biswas said.
The cyclonic system then lay centred over south Odisha, about 40 km west-northwest of Gopalpur and about 150 km east-southeast of Bhawanipatna, he said.
Biswas said it would continue to move west-northwestward and weaken gradually into a deep depression.
As the cyclonic storm made a landfall, it brought heavy to very heavy rainfall in some places in Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts of the state, officials said.
Under its impact, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to lash several places in Rayagada, Kalahandi, Koraput and Nabarangpur districts till Saturday, the Met department said.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely to occur at some places in Balangir, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts till the morning of Saturday, it said.
The Met department also warned of gale wind with speed reaching 60-70 kmph and gusting up to 80 kmph along and off south Odisha coast for a few hours.
The impact of the cyclonic storm was felt more in Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha, Nayagarh and Puri districts.
The state government has instructed officials in coastal districts and various departments to be alert to tackle any emergency situation, official sources said.
Danger signs with signal number 3, which warns of surface winds clocking 40-50 kmph, have been hoisted at all ports of Odisha, officials said.
Earlier on Thursday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik held a review meeting and directed the officials to keep a close watch on the situation and take steps to ensure no loss of life. He also asked them to arrange adequate relief materials.
The cyclone warning division's (CWD) advisory said the sea will be very rough over central and north Bay of Bengal and off Odisha, West Bengal and north Andhra Pradesh coasts.
There will also be a storm surge of about 0.5 m above astronomical tides and it is likely to inundate low-lying areas of Vizianagaram, Srikakulam districts in Andhra Pradesh and Gajapati, Ganjam, Khurda and Puri districts in Odisha at the time of landfall, it said.
The chief minister asked officials of the coastal districts to be alert and prepared.
Patnaik issued direction for cancelling holiday in government offices in Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Nayagarh and Khurda districts, which are likely to be hit by fierce winds.
The IMD has also predicted damage to thatched hut, roads, crops and minor damage to power and communication lines in Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha, Nayagarh and Puri districts at the time of landfall. Local cautionary Signal Number LC-III to be kept hoisted at all ports of Odisha, it said.
Reports about damage, if any, were being ascertained, said officials.
As roads and power supply are likely to be affected due to the cyclone, Patnaik asked the departments concerned to take steps in advance to ensure quick restoration works.
He directed that special attention be given to water, electricity supply and hospitals, an official in the CMO said.
Taking the situation into account, the NDRF and the ODRAF have been deployed in different districts. One NDRF team each has been deployed in Kalahandi, Rayagada, Gajapati, Puri, Nayagarh and Kandhamal districts with 17 boats and other emergency equipment.
“As per the latest prediction of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the deep depression over Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclone which will cross Gopalpur coast tonight,” said Odisha Chief Secretary, Aditya Prasad Padhi.
Padhi further informed that districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Nayagarh and Khurda are likely to experience maximum wind speed of 60 to 70 km/hr gusting up to a speed of 80 km/hr.
“We are alert and each concerned department including electricity has been put on alert and the situation is being closely monitored,” Padhi added.
Official sources said the wind speed in these districts is likely to increase from 5 PM today. As the sea condition is likely to remain rough, fishermen in coastal districts have been warned not to venture into the sea in the next 24 hours.
Senior officials further informed that district administrations in Puri and Ganjam have been asked to carry out evacuation in vulnerable and low-lying areas in their respective regions.
Moreover, Khurda district administration today cancelled the holidays of all the government employees for tomorrow in view of heavy cyclonic rain.
Sample this: The number of heat waves swept across the State in 1970-79 were mere 2, which means the State witnessed heat wave twice during the decade. The number then had risen to 7 and 9 during the two successive decades of 1980-89 and 1990-99. In fact, coastal Odisha's first brush with heat wave was in 1998, when nearly 200 people succumbed to intense heat wave that enveloped the entire coastal belt for the first time in State's history.
Post the 1998 intense heat wave, came the 1999 super cyclone. In fact, year 1999 saw two cyclones hitting Odisha in a span of mere 15-days. Since then Odisha has been in the epicentre of 'extreme' natural events.
Consider this. Post the 1999 super cyclone, the number of heat waves gripped the State zoomed by a whopping 343 per cent. The decade of 2000-09 saw around 31 heat waves from mere 7 in the earlier decade. Significantly, the State breathed easy for three year period of 2010-2013, when Odisha on an average witnessed mere 2 heat waves per year.
However, as the State bore the brunt of extremely severe cyclone Phailin in 2013, the year 2014 again witnessed intense heat wave. As many 10 heat waves gripped the State in 2014. The following year, means 2015, Odisha witnessed one of its worst drought. But the State witnessed three heat waves. The year 2016 saw mere 2 heat waves.
However, since 2017 the extreme natural events happen at a rapid pace in Odisha. The year 2017 recorded a whopping 41 heat waves - the hottest ever year in Odisha's history since 1970, when recording of temperatures have started in India.
Last year, that means in 2018, Odisha witnessed 22 heat waves and 2 cyclones (Daye and Titli). This was the first year in State's history when Odisha witnessed intense heat waves and also cyclones in tow later.
The notable fact here is Odisha had witnessed heat waves either preceding or following the cyclone years, be it 1998 heat wave year followed by 1999 super cyclone or the years following the super cyclone year.
In Odisha's climatic history, year 2017 was the worst year ever. Not only heat waves, Odisha topped the country in lightning deaths in country in 2017.
Interestingly, extreme weather events are an outcome of climate change. The signs of climate change are heat waves, cold waves and cyclones. All the signs manifest quite conspicuously in Odisha. And the impact was more discernible since 2017.
Take this for instance. Odisha during the period of 1990 - 2016 had witnessed mere 5 cold waves. But since 2017, the number of cold waves shivering Odisha posted a sudden spurt. When the number of cold waves the State witnessed in 2017 were 11, it jumped to 15 in 2018.
Moreover, Odisha had never witnessed any extremely severe cyclone in the month of April- May since last three decades. The increasing pace of natural catastrophes in Odisha, therefore, point to an emerging ominous trend in Odisha.
The bottom line: Odisha, which touted itself as the first State to have a climate change monitoring group to suggest policy changes to mitigate increasing natural calamities, and have also won plaudits from World Bank and UNEP, seems clueless as all the policy stances remained on paper only.