Malkangiri: Special rescue teams of Odisha Fire Service were pressed into service in flood-affected areas of Malkangiri district in the early hours of Monday. The teams working on war footing rescued a large number of people from several parts of the district and shifted them to safe locations.
Meanwhile, the district administration has announced that schools and Anganwadi centres will remain closed on Tuesday in view of heavy rains and red warning issued by the Met department.
Apart from Malkangiri, the administration in Ganjam has also announced closure of all schools and Anganwadi centres in the district on September 10 (Tuesday) in view of heavy rain predicted by the weather agency.
Ganjam Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida has issued an order stating that all schools and Anganwadi centres in the district will remain closed tomorrow to avoid any untoward incident.
It maybe noted that the Odisha government today deputed DG (Fire Services & Home Guards) Sundhansu Sarangi, Principal Secretary Bishnupada Sethi and DIG (Southern Division) Charan Singh Meena to supervise and assist Malkangiri district administration to deal with the flood-like situation.
Labourers rescued from construction site
Three laborers were rescued by a team of Fire Services from a bridge construction site near Malkangiri. The workers were engaged in pole construction work when they encountered the flooding crisis. The workers engaged at Poteru bridge were stranded at the camp office whole night after the premises was water logged. They were rescued today morning.
7 Workers rescued from construction site
In another incident, 7 stranded labourers were rescued from a construction site by Fire Service personnel from MV 39 village. The workers were engaged at a bridge construction site and had taken shelter on a roof after flood water submerged the area.
Doctor attends patient amid flooding
On Monday morning when several areas of Malkangiri reported heavy flooding, a doctor showed resilience and treated his patients calmly. Heavy rain was no deterrent for this medic posted at a hospital in Jodamba village of the district. Despite the challenging conditions, a dedicated doctor displayed remarkable commitment and continued to treat patients.
Flood situation grim
Transportation between Malkangiri and Koraput districts has been severed with the national highway submerged under floodwater. Hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying essential commodities, are stranded across the district due to the floods, sources said.
Floodwater was flowing at a height of 2 to 3 feet on the culvert over Pangam river of National Highway 326, connecting Malkangiri with Jaipur. Besides, all small and big bridges at Kankurukonda, Poteru, Badili, MV-7, MV-90 and MV-96 between Malkangiri and Motu were affected due to flooding, sources added.
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.
