Bhubaneswar: Incessant rain triggered by deep depression disrupted road connectivity in several parts of south Odisha on Thursday amid submergence of bridges and key roads.
Among the severely affected districts was Malkangiri where rainwater from the hills has flooded bridges on National Highway 326.
According to information, heavy rain submerged the Poteru and Kankurukonda bridges in the district, with rainwater flowing about two to three feet high over the bridges. Many vehicles remain stranded on both sides, disrupting connectivity between Malkangiri and Motu and Kalimela on National Highway 326.
Sources said two to three feet of water is flowing over Poteru Bridge and Kangurukonda Bridge on the Malkangiri-Kalimela road, while about three feet of water is flowing over Kanyashram Bridge on the Kalimela-Podia road.
As a result, vehicular movement from Malkangiri to Kalimela and Motu, and from Kalimela to Podia has been completely stopped. Hundreds of vehicles are stranded on both sides of the bridges.
The district administration has put up barricades on the bridges and diverted NH traffic towards Chhattisgarh as a safety measure.
According to the data released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), seven stations in Odisha have recorded very heavy rainfall while 58 stations witnessed heavy rain in last 24 hours.
Similiguda in Koraput district has emerged as the wettest place with 193.9 mm of rainfall. It is followed by Chitrakonda in Malkangiri with 168.8 mm, Mahendragarh in Gajapati with 153.4 mm and Tangi in Khordha with 142.0 mm. Other stations that crossed the 120 mm mark are G. Udaygiri in Kandhamal with 125.4 mm, Paralakhemundi with 121.4 mm and Gosani with 120.0 mm, both in Gajapati district.
Apart from the very heavy rainfall pockets, heavy rain has lashed several other parts of the state. Banki in Kataka recorded 112.0 mm, Ghasipura in Kendujhar 110.2 mm, Jaipur in Baleshwar 107.2 mm, Malkanagiri town 101.0 mm and Bari in Jajpur 100.0 mm.
Districts including Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Nayagada, Kandhamala, Koraput, Khordha, Kataka and Nabarangapur have also witnessed heavy rainfall ranging between 64 mm and 99 mm at multiple stations. Mayurbhanj, Ganjam and Jajpur districts recorded heavy rain at several places.