Round-Up: Heavy Rain Lashes Southern & Western Odisha, More Expected

Bhubaneswar: Life has been thrown out of gear in the southern and western districts of Odisha following heavy rain since Sunday night under the influence of a low pressure over the north-west Bay of Bengal.

According to the forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the low pressure, which is moving in the north-west direction, would trigger heavy rainfall in 16 districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Balangir, Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Sambalpur, Balasore, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj in the next 48 hours.

Besides, extremely heavy rain is likely in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam and Gajapati and Puri and Khurda districts during this period. It would continue till August 21.

The Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, in a release on Monday, has issued lightning and thundershower alert for Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Balasore, Kendrapara, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Nayagarh and Ganjam districts and advised people to stay indoors till 2.30 pm.

Fishermen have been warned against venturing into deep sea in the north-west and west-central Bay of Bengal as the conditions would be very rough during the period, the release added.

Due to heavy overnight rain in Malkangiri district, road communication between Malkangiri and Jeypore has been cut off with floodwater of Pangam river flowing at a height of four feet over a bridge in the Mathili block.

Besides, road communication between Majhiguda and Kenduguda has been disrupted after a culvert was swept away by the floodwater in Khairput block.

In Sundargarh district, the low-lying areas in Rajgangpur town and its outskirts have been inundated with rainwater. People in the Master Colony of the Ward no-18 have been marooned by rainwater, which has entered houses. Communication to this ward has been disrupted with rainwater flowing at a height of about two feet on the road. Till reports last came in, no officials have so far visited the area.

On the other hand, hundreds of Bol Bam devotees have been stranded on both sides of a bridge near the Ghodhar Dham of Lord Siva due to overflowing of floodwater of a nullah. The ODRAF team and the Fire Brigade personnel have been deployed near the bridge. Due to an alarming rise in the water level and strong currents, the district administration has asked people not to cross the bridge.

Rainwater has also entered the houses in low-lying areas of Biramitrapur town, where people are seen standing on the road.

Rainwater has entered the Daily Market, Kalinga Vihar, Gangadharpalli, Narla Road and Sarala Market areas of Rourkela following heavy rain.

Talking to mediapersons, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishupada Sethi said the rainfall in the state would continue for 2-3 days.

“There has been no untoward incident due to heavy rain. Instructions have been given to the district collectors and the people to remain vigilant. Besides, the fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea during the inclement weather conditions,” he added.

He also said that the state government will provide compensation towards the damage of houses and crops on the basis of the report of the district collectors.