Baripada/Keonjhar: Even as the Odisha government on Wednesday claimed that the flood situation was not alarming, an elderly woman met watery grave and two drivers died after their vehicles were swept away by the floodwater at different places in the state.
According to sources, Snehalata Mohapatra of Bhimapada village in Mayurbhanj district had gone to the community health centre (CHC) in Badasahi block with her family members for COVID-19 test in an ambulance.
While returning in the ambulance after the test, the driver stopped the vehicle as floodwater of Gangahar nullah was flowing over the road near Manitri temple. As the family got down from the vehicle to cross the road on foot, the strong current in the water swept away Snehalata.
On being informed, Fire personnel rushed to the spot to rescue her. But, there was no trace of the woman till the report was filed.
In the same district, a truck was swept away by floodwater of Baitarani river near Karanjia while the driver was crossing a submerged road. Police and locals recovered the driver’s body later, said sources.
In Keonjhar district, a man driving a Tavera car tried to cross an overflowing Janjali nullah near Panasdiha under Anandpur police limits. But the man along with his car was carried away by the heavy current. Later, the body of the person and the car were found near the nullah.
In another incident in the district, a paddy-laden truck almost overturned while its driver was trying to drive through a road submerged by about 3-ft water from a river in Swampatana under Patana police limits. However, the driver was rescued by the locals.
