Water level in many rivers goes up; road communication affected; power production stops from Indravati reservoir
Bhawanipatna: The low-pressure triggered rain over the last two days has thrown life out of gear in western parts of the state and triggered a flood like situation in Kalahandi district, a report said Sunday.
This has given rise to a flood like situation in the district as the water level rose in Tel, Udanti, Utei, Sagada, Banshdhara and Nagabali rivers.
The rain has played havoc with the people as communication between M. Rampur and Bhubaneswar and Berhampur was snapped after the highway near Goudkela was washed away. Road connectivity was also snapped between T Rampur with Mahulpatna while a landslide and uprooting of trees disrupted communications on the Singari ghat.
All communications between T. Rampur with Bhawanipatna, Kalampur, Kashipur was also disrupted with roads being washed away in the rainfall. Similarly, communications between Junagarh and Kalampur was disrupted at Talbandh Pada and between Junagarh and Kalampur after the roads were washed away.
Four blocks in the district recorded 100-200 mm rainfall while blocks like Kalampur, Narla, Kesinga, Junagarh and T Rampur recorded 200-300 mm rainfall. District Collector Anjan Kumar Manik ordered closure of all educational institutions Saturday and shifted 681 persons in the water-logged areas to safer places.
Over 2,000 flood-hit people were provided cooked and dry food in eight relief centres opened by the district administration, the Collector said. Several villages in Junagarh and Kalampur blocks were submerged after floodwaters from Hati river entered the human habitations.
Houses of Bira Singh Majhi, Karan Majhi in Melkundel village, Jagannath Nayak, Laba Nayak in Tikraguda village, Kunjamani Naik in Taljhapi, Tikkendra Singh and Bijay Pradhani in Bissam Giri village have collapsed due to incessant rain.
Five gates of Mangalpur barrage in Jaypatna block were opened to release floodwater as the rain continues to pound in Nabarangpur, the upstream of Hati. Acting on the direction of the Collector, the Indravati reservoir authorities also stopped power production from 9.30 am Friday.
The released floodwater has spread to riverside villages and inundated farmlands in Kalampur block on the downstream of Hati. The actual figure regarding the number of affected people and loss of properties is yet to be ascertained as rains continued to lash Sunday.
The district administration brushed aside flood fear in Indravati reservoir which recorded 631.8 metre water level Sunday morning. The water retaining capacity of the reservoir is 641 metre.
PNN