Bhubaneswar: The cup of woes overflowed in Kalahandi district when a temporary approach road was washed away at Kantesi on National Highway-26 following incessant rain since Monday night.
Besides traffic snarl-up, hundreds of buses, trucks and other vehicles were stranded on both sides of the road. It also affected vehicular movement from the district to Balangir, Bhawanipatna, Nabarangpur, Rayagada and Malkangiri.
The repair of the approach road was delayed with a lorry stuck in the cave-in. The district administration had to engage a JCB machine to pull it out.
Under the influence of the low-pressure, rain lashed Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Kalahandi districts from 2 pm till midnight on Monday.
According to the latest India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin, thunderstorm, lightning and intense rainfall are likely in seven districts of Odisha. The alert has been sounded for Puri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Boudh, Sonepur, Nabarangpur and Kandhamal districts till 4.30pm.
The latest Doppler weather radar and images indicate that thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and heavy rain is expected at one or two places in these districts.
Besides, heavy to heavy rainfall likely to occur at a few places with extremely heavy fall at one or two places over Puri, Khordha, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Dhenkanal, Sambalpur, Boudh and Kandhamal districts during the next 24 hours.
Collectors of these districts have been asked to remain prepared to meet any eventuality.
ODRAF, Fire Services and NDRF were also kept in readiness for eventual deployment.
Fisheries and ARD Department has taken steps to prevent the fishermen from venture into the sea.
The BMC and the CMC have made elaborate arrangement to tackle waterlogging and flood situation in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack respectively.
