Normal Life Hit As Incessant Rains Wreak Havoc In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Normal life was thrown out of gear in many parts of Odisha on Wednesday with torrential rains triggered by a low pressure over the Bay of Bengal causing bridge collapse and landslides.

With heavy rain lashing several parts of the state during the past couple of days, gushing water also breached and damaged roads in several places besides submerging low-lying areas in different districts. As a result, road connectivity was snapped and vehicular movement was disrupted in some places, sources said.

Vehicular movement between some areas of Odisha and neighbouring Chhattisgarh was disrupted as a bridge over Jonk river in Nuapada district collapsed following heavy downpour. While people in around 30 villages were affected due to the incident, road connectivity with several areas within the state was also snapped.

Similarly, a portion of a bridge on Nilagiri-Kaptipada road in Balasore district caved in following torrential rains. The bridge connecting Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts has become very unsafe for commuters and vehicular movement on it has come to a complete halt.

Senior officials rushed to the spot after getting information about the incident and initiated necessary steps for restoration of communication on that route at the earliest.

In another incident in Balasore district, a bridge over a coast canal caved in near Inchudi under Remuna block snapping vehicular movement in the area and severely affecting normal activities including trade and business. School students from nearby villages faced enormous difficulty and most of them had to abstain from attending classes, a local said.

Similarly, traffic was hit on Sambalpur-Bargarh National Highway following landslide caused by heavy rain. Boulders from Laxmi Dungri hill blocked the highway in the area paralysing traffic movement.

Local residents alleged that travelling on the route often becomes dangerous due to frequent landslides at Laxmi Dungri Hill. They said the administration must take necessary steps to ensure the safety of commuters.

Heavy rain caused landslides in Kandhamal district also. Several trees were uprooted and fell on Gadiapada Ghati near Khajuripada disrupting vehicular traffic on Khajuripada-Madhapur Road much to the inconvenience of commuters.

A large number of vehicles remained stranded on the road for a long time due to landslide. The Works Department later took steps for clearing the debris and concrete from the road to restore normal traffic

Landslide was also reported from Rani Pathar Ghati on Phulbani-Boudh road. National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) took steps to clear the debris from the road with the help of machines.

A report from Dhenkanal district said that a stretch of a road in Kamakhyanagar area was washed away following incessant rain, causing hardship for commuters.

Battered by heavy rain during the last four days, Odisha is likely to witness increased rainfall from August 13 with the IMD forecasting the formation of a fresh low pressure over the north Bay of Bengal.