Heavy Rain Triggers Flood Threat In South Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Flood threat is looming large in South Odisha districts following heavy downpour since last 36 hours under the influence of a low-pressure.

In Rayagada district, the water level of the Bansadhara river crossed the danger level at Ranipinda in Muniguda block. Due to the overflowing of floodwater road communication between Rayagada and Kalahandi has been disrupted.

The plight of the patients has become miserable as the rainwater entered the district headquarters hospital.

In Nabarangpur district, the water level of the Bansadhara river has crossed the danger mark at Gunupur. Till reports last came in, the floodwater was flowing at height of 83.65 metres over the danger level at 83 metres.

In Koraput district, authorities of the Machhkund dam on Wednesday opened five out of the eight gates of the dam to release the floodwater. Till reports last came in, 18,000 cusecs of water per second were released from the five gates.

Following heavy rainfall, road communication between Malkangiri and Balimela has been disrupted due to overflowing over rainwater at a height of about 4 feet on a bridge near Korukonda and another bridge near MV-37 village.

In Kalahandi district, road communication between Bhawanipatna and Rayagada was cut off after a bridge over the Pipal Nullah was washed away at Sikerkupa on National Highway-46 on Wednesday morning. As a result, hundreds of vehicles have stranded on both sides of the road.

In Dharmagarh block, road connection between Gupra Road and Narla has been cut off after an approach road connecting the Sadul river bridge was washed away on Tuesday night.

Due to heavy rain in the upper catchments of Indravati river, five gates of the Hati Barrage was opened to release the floodwater.

According to reports, the water level of Hati, Sadul and Tel rivers in the district are flowing near the danger level due to heavy rain in the district since the last 24 hours.

The rainfall recorded in Kalahandi district in the last 24 hours was highest in Thuamul-Rampur Block at 208.5 mm followed by 150 mm in Jayapatna, 137 mm in Kalampur and 77 mm in Junagarh.