Rain Fury: 19 Villages Cut Off From Mainland After Landslide In Odisha’s Malkangiri

Bhubaneswar: At least 19 villages of Nakamamudi panchayat in Odisha’s Malkangiri district were cut off from the mainland following a landslide at Bayapada ghat due to incessant rainfall on Thursday.

According to sources, chunks of debris came crashing onto the road from the hill, disrupting vehicular movement. The incident has affected over 3000 people residing in the area.

Road communication from the district headquarters town of Malkangiri to Balimela, Kalimela and Motu towns has also been affected. Different parts of this southern Odisha district is also witnessing severe waterlogging with water flowing over different bridges in Potteru and Kangurukonda areas.

The district is also staring at a flood-like situation with an increase in the water level in several rivers, owing to the heavy downpour. Communication to Andrapalli gram panchayat in Swabhiman Anchal has been affected with Gora bridge under the water. Submersion of Gurupriya Bridge, which connects Swabhiman Anchal with the rest of the state, cannot be ruled out, an official told PTI.

The Collector has directed for evacuation of residents of the low-lying areas to safer places in the case of flood.

According to some reports, the situation in the district has improved after 30 hours and vehicular movement has resume with the receding water level.

Notably, seven blocks in Malkangiri district have received an average rainfall of 943.2 mm in the last 24 hours, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain (7 to 20 cm) has been issued for isolated places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Kalahandi and Kandhamal on July 20. Heavy rain (7 to 11 cm) is also expected at one or two places in Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Puri, Gajapati, Rayagada, Cuttack, Boudh, Sonepur, Balangir and Bargarh.

Heavy to very heavy rain may continue at some places in Malkangiri till July 23.