Bhubaneswar: Even as cyclone Montha weakened after crossing Andhra coast, it left a trail of destruction in several parts of Odisha triggering landslides and damaging roads, bridges and houses.
Severely affected were districts in southern Odisha which were hit by heavy to very heavy rain and strong winds under the influence of the cyclone, which made a landfall near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh as a severe cyclonic storm on Tuesday night.
Officials said a major landslide following incessant rain triggered by the cyclone disrupted road connectivity in Gajapati district, snapping links with several villages near R Udayagiri block.
Following the landslide at Ramgiri-Badagaon ghat, large boulders and mud blocked the main hilly road that connects Gajapati with the Ganjam district.
After heavy downpour on Tuesday night, massive rocks rolled down the hillside and accumulated on the road, disrupting connectivity with five villages in the area.
Following the incident, senior officials including the Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Block
Development Officer (BDO), and a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rushed to the spot to launch clearance operations.
Heavy machinery and manpower have been deployed to remove the debris, clear the key road and restore connectivity.
A senior official said that all disaster response teams are prepared. While two NDRF teams are already engaged in clearing the road, three more are set to reach the site soon to join the operation.
R Udayagiri and Mohana blocks of Gajapati district were among the badly hit amid damage to some thatched and mud houses following heavy rain coupled with thunder and gusty winds.
A report from Ganjam district said that a portion of Ramnadi Bridge, along with its sidewall, caved in under the impact of heavy downpour at Chasanimakhandi under Digpahandi block. As a result, vehicular movement was severely affected on the route. Several vehicles were seen stranded on the bridge following the incident.
Locals said the pothole was believed to have been formed as rain washed away part of the bridge’s surface near the sidewall. The bridge, maintained by the Public Works Department, is situated on a major route connecting different parts of the district.
PWD engineers immediately visited the site to assess the extent of the damage. They are evaluating the structural safety of the bridge and planning urgent repair work to prevent accidents and restore smooth traffic flow.