Bhubaneswar: Torrential rains in last 24 hours wreaked havoc in South Odisha, especially in the Malkangiri district of the State. Hundreds of villagers were cut-off from the mainstream following flash floods triggered by incessant rains.
In Malkangiri district, heavy rains have led to a flood-like situation; as per reports, arterial routes leading to the district headquarters have been flooded; Kalimela, Balimela, Chitrakonda, Mathili, MV-37, Bonda Ghati have been cut-off from the rest of the district as water flows 2-3 ft above the Korukonda, Tarlakota, Pangam bridges. Communication of 32 villages of the Bonda Ghati snapped from the rest of the district following a landslide near Makhadjhola. Communication between Jeypore and Malkangiri has also been affected.
With no signs of rains receding, the district administration has geared up to evacuate people from the low-lying areas of the district. Fire, police officials have been roped in to service to restore road connectivity where trees have fallen.
Glad to see the prompt action taken by @spmalkangiri and his team today to restore the road connectivity at Bonda ghati,Malkanagiri. The quick action despite incessant rains & boycott calls by naxals reflects our commitment to protect and serve in all odds #DutyAboveElse pic.twitter.com/iUfszyGHbD
— DGP, Odisha (@DGPOdisha) August 15, 2018
All the major rivers in the Kalahandi district, Hati, Tel, Ret, Indravati and Sandul have swollen and cut off Kalampur, Jayapatna, Thuamul Rampur and M Rampur blocks from the mainstream, inundating many villages like Biripur, Matikhal, Balichada, Pastikudi.
#WATCH | Heavy #rainfall in #Kalahandi: Several villages cut-off from mainstream as river water flows above danger mark; as per SRC reports, Kalahandi district has received highest average rainfall 139.7 mm #Odisha pic.twitter.com/Xpx3JTnkUx
— Kalinga TV (@Kalingatv24x7) August 15, 2018
The deputy relief commissioner said that two deaths have been reported from Kalahandi & Koraput district on account of heavy rain. According to reports, Kashipur has received 190 mm rainfall, Kasinagar 186 mm, Kotpad 161 mm, Koraput 154.4 mm, Kalampur 137.4 mm since Wednesday morning.
With Hati river’s water flowing above the danger level, five gates of Indravati project’s Mangalpur barrage was opened for releasing the flood water. Till the filing of this report, overflowing water was running two feet above the Biripur-Kalampur-Matikhala road.
Water also entered the low-lying areas of the towns and inundated various areas of Bhawanipatna, Kesinga, Junagarh and Dharamgarh in the district. Flood water of Pipal nullah entered the Jaleswar temple in Bhawanipatna; similarly, families were marooned in Shantinagar pada and Ambagachapada areas of the town.
#WATCH | #Flood water from Pipal nullah submerges Jaleswar temple in #Bhawanipatna #Kalahandi #Odisha pic.twitter.com/MFstKrCgKS
— Kalinga TV (@Kalingatv24x7) August 15, 2018
Vehicular movement was disrupted on Rupra road as Sandul river’s floodwater flowed above the road.