Odisha rains: several parts of Cuttack submerged, communication disrupted in 5 panchayats

Cuttack: Heavy rainfall across Odisha has caused severe flooding. Various areas of Cuttack district have been submerged.

Five panchayats, in Cuttack district have been cut off. 20,000 families have been marooned. Bhatimunda Bridge and hectares of farmland have been submerged. Gandha river in Cuttack’s Choudwar is in full spate, water has entered into villages.

Meanwhile, flood water in Mahanadi river has increased sharply due to which the water level in various rivers including Brahmani, Baitarani, Rusikulya, Bansadhara have subsequently increased. Water is flowing at 4 feet over Cuttack-Sambalpur road.

The government has evacuated 13,534 persons from affected areas in seven districts while 2, 870 houses have been damaged in the rain, as per the report.

Meanwhile, Special Relief Commissioner P.K. Jena has asked all District Collectors to submit damage reports by September 22.

“Assessment of damage to the properties in different sectors such as houses, agriculture (crop loss of 33 per cent & above), sand cast of agriculture land, loss of cattle, etc and enumeration of beneficiaries have to be taken up on priority so that the assistance as per norms of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) can be paid to the affected persons expeditiously to enable them to repair/reconstruct their houses and restore livelihood,” he said in a letter.

The death toll due to the heavy rains in Odisha has risen to four, said official sources.