Heavy Rain Disrupts Life In South Odisha, Bansadhara Flows Above Danger Mark

Bhubaneswar: Normal life has been badly hit in South Odisha districts due to heavy rainfall under the influence of a low pressure over the northwest Bay of Bengal.

Most areas in Malkangiri district are virtually cut off from the rest of the world due to heavy rain since Thursday night.

According to reports, road communication between Malkangiri and Balimela has been disrupted with rainwater flowing at a height of about 5 feet on a bridge between Korakunda and MV-37 village. Similar is the situation between Balimela and Jeypore.

In Kandhamal district too, rainwater flowing over a bridge near Bastingia village has hit connectivity between Chakapada and Tikabali. Water overflowing from the right canal of the Indravati dam has also entered several villages in the district.

Reports said the ingress of the canal water occurred as gates of the dam in the downstream could not be opened due to incessant rain. Till reports last came in, the overflowing canal water had entered Rajapada village of Jaipatna Block, some low-lying villages of Mukhiguda Sector-2 Block and the Kapurmal village in the district. The panicky villagers have urged the dam authorities to open the downstream gates at the earliest.

Road communication in Madanpur-Rampur block has also been disrupted due with rainwater flowing on a bridge between Metaguda and Baliguda village.

Besides, the water level of Hati, Tel and Udanti rivers is on the rise due to torrential rain in the upper catchments.

Flood threat has been looming large in Rayagada district with Bansadhara river flowing above the danger mark at Gunupur. According to reports, the water level in the river was 80.65 metres, having crossed the danger mark of 80.25 metres.

As informed by the Central Water Commission (CWC) office at Gunupur, rainfall recorded since last 24 hours was 14 mm at Gudari in Rayagada district while Mohana and Mahendragarh in Gajapati received 22 mm and 31 mm respectively.

Besides, there has been an alarming rise in the water level of Mahendratanaya, a tributary of Bansadhara river, in the Gajapati district.