IMD Issues Heavy Rain Alert For 5 Odisha Districts

Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rain in five districts in the south and western Odisha in next 24 hours.

According to a release by the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, on Thursday, the depression over the north-west Bay of Bengal has weakened and is moving towards the north-west direction. It will turn into a well-marked low pressure in the evening. Under its influence, there will be very heavy rainfall in Malkangiri, Koraput, Bargarh, Nuapada and Nabarangpur districts in the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, flood situation has loomed large in the South Odisha districts due to heavy rainfall since last 48 hours.

In Koraput district, several low-lying areas have been inundated with rainwater. The road connecting to the Gupteswar temple has been swept away by the flash flood. Besides, road connection to several blocks and panchayats has been disrupted due to overflowing of rainwater on the road. At some places, the rainwater has been flowing over the bridges.

The torrential rain has virtually cut off the Malkangiri district from the outside world. Road connection between Jeypore, Malkangiri and Kalimela has been disrupted due to overflowing of the floodwater at a height of 8 feet over the Pangama bridge. The people of Poteru village have been marooned by the floodwater. Due to flowing of the floodwater over the Kangarukonda bridge, road connection between Kalimela and Padia has been cut off.  Besides, floodwater was also flowing over Korukonda and Karlakota bridges, reports said.

Road communication to Mudulipada and Andarhala panchayat in the district has been cut off following a landslide in the Bonda Ghat in the evening on Wednesday.

In Kalahandi district, water level of Hati, Tel and Sardul rivers is on the rise. Floodwater has entered the low-lying areas. Road communication from Kalahandi to Narla and Rayagada has been disrupted as a portion of a road has been swept away on this route. Besides, floodwater is flowing at a height of 4 feet in Rupra Road area.

In another incident, the Fire Brigade personnel have rescued two stranded persons inside the Kesinga Irrigation project, five persons from Mahadurpadar and 24 persons from some villages of Narla and Karlamunda blocks. On Wednesday evening, the Fire Brigade had rescued 13 employees of the Energy department and four employees of the Water Resources department from the river bed of Tel river after they were stranded by the sudden floodwater. The employees had gone for a work in the Manjipadar irrigation project when they were trapped by the sudden rise in the water level of the river.
Till reports last came in, there has been no rain in Kalahandi district for nearly 12 hours since 9 pm on Wednesday. As a result, there is a gradual recession of floodwater in the low-lying areas.

In Kandhamal district, an old man of Kumbhara Sahi village of Kotagarh block was swept away by the raging floodwater of Karasar river.

In Rayagada district, road communication to 40 villages was cut off following a landslide in Raghubari Ghat. Besides, road communication from Rayagada to Kurli and Bisamkatak was also cut off due to a landslide near a Siva temple at Chatikana on Thursday morning.

In Boudh district, road communication to Kantamal, Ghantapada and Baliguda block has been disrupted due to overflowing of floodwater of Tel river at a height of four feet over a bridge near Odagudi.

Road communication between Sonepur and Redhakhol has been disrupted due to overflowing of the nullah water at a height of five feet over a bridge at Baurijora.