Odisha Govt Deputes 3 Officers To ‘Cut-Off’ Malkangiri, Readies For Impact Of Deep Depression

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday deputed DG (Fire Services & Home Guards) Sundhansu Sarangi, Principal Secretary Bishnupada Sethi and DIG (Southern Division) Charan Meena to supervise and assist the administration in Malkangiri, which has been cut off from Koraput amid incessant rains, in disaster management.

This followed a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja to review the preparedness measures in the presence of DC-cum-ACS, Water Resources, ADG, Law & Order, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and other senior officers of OSDMA and other departments this morning.

According to the SRC, floodwater is overflowing all the bridges from Pangam to Motu Road in Malkangiri, affecting road communication at 8 places. While 6 villages in Malkangiri and Kalimela blocks have been affected,  504 people so far been evacuated and sheltered in 4 relief camps. Two units of ODRAF have deployed in the district.

In Koraput, 36 villages in Jeypore, Boipariguda, Kundra, Borigumma, Semiliguda and Koraput blocks have been affected. While 150 houses have been partially damaged, road communication from Digapur to Kundra is disrupted due with floodwater flowing over Biri Nadi bridge. In total, communication has been snapped at 6 places. A total of 56 people have been shifted to 2 relief camps and provided cooked food. One unit of ODRAF have deployed in the district.

Also Read: Deep Depression To Cross Puri @75 Kmph In 3 Hrs, Dump Extremely Heavy Rain In Odisha

RAINFALL IN LAST 24 HOURS

The highest rainfall of 253 mm was recorded in Malkangiri block. Three blocks of Malkangiri, Chitrakonda & Khoirput received more than 200 mm rainfall and six of Korukunda, Mathili, Kalimela of Malkangiri district and Borigumma, Boipariguda & Lamtapur in Koraput district recorded over 100 mm of rainfall.

IMD FORECAST FOR TODAY

Red Warning: Heavy to very heavy rainfall to occur at few places and extremely heavy rainfall in isolated places may occur in Ganjam , Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Khurda, Balangir, Boudh Koraput, Nabarangapur and Puri

Orange Warning : Heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places may occur in Cuttack, Angul, Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Sonepur, Bargarh, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Sambalpur

Yellow Warning: Heavy Rainfall in isolated pockets may occur in Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Deogarh, Jharsuguda and Sundargarh.

PREPARDENESS

 The field level functionaries have been instructed to remain prepared to meet any eventuality including possibility of landslides in hilly areas.

 The engineers in charge have been directed to keep close watch over the embankments especially weak/vulnerable points in river/canal embankments.

 Flood fighting materials ready at strategic places and immediate action may be taken to prevent any breach or to close the breach, damage of roads, if any.

 Drainage engineers officials may take steps to clear the congestion materials from the drainage channels for free flow of flood/ rainwater.

 Urban Local Bodies have been instructed to make advance arrangements for dewatering from the areas likely to face water logging.

ODRAF DEPLOYMENT

Six units have been deployed in Malkangiri and 2 each in Koraput/Jeypore, Rayagada, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Boudh and Balangir.  Twelve more teams are kept in readiness for 5 coastal and adjoining districts (Ganjam, Khurda, Puri, Nayagarh and Boudh).

DEPLOYMENT OF FIRE SERVICES

• 5 teams in each block of Malkangiri

• 1 team from Nabarangapur and 1 team from Jeypore have been moved to Malkangiri

• Teams of Balangir, Koraput and other nearby districts are kept in readiness

NDRF DEPLOYMENT

Six units of NDRF have been moved to Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh and two more are kept at standby.

DE-WATERING

30 additional pumps for Bhubaneswar, 10 additional pumps each for Cuttack and Puri are kept in readiness.