Thuamul Rampur: Heavy rainfall has disrupted normal life in Thuamul Rampur block and adjoining areas of Kalahandi district, with floodwaters damaging houses and leaving several families stranded.
In Pithamandi village under Kaniguma panchayat, house of Harishchandra Naik collapsed, while the walls of houses belonging to Raimati Bewa, Sabita Naik and Urmila Naik in Kosabara village were washed away by floodwaters.
Several families in Gunpur Bandhapada, including Santosh Kumar Pujari, Dasharu Naik, Kadamba Naik and Udit Sahu, have been marooned after water entered the areas surrounding their houses. In Balishara village, damaged mud-house walls have forced residents to take shelter under tarpaulins and makeshift coverings.
In Thuamul Rampur headquarters, a garment shop collapsed, reportedly destroying goods worth around Rs 2.5 lakh.
In Badachhatrang village, two of the four rooms of Chakradhar Naik’s house collapsed while his mother, Sita Bewa, and two sons were sleeping inside. They narrowly escaped injury.
Meanwhile, two bridges constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana near Sargiguda village in Gopalpur panchayat have collapsed, disrupting road connectivity. Near Birikot, an electric pole and a tamarind tree fell onto the road. Fire service personnel cleared the road by removing the fallen tree.
Residents of the affected areas have demanded the immediate supply of dry food, drinking water, free tarpaulins and safe temporary shelters. They have also sought priority housing assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana or Biju Pucca Ghar scheme for poor families whose houses were damaged.
Villagers have further demanded immediate compensation from the disaster relief fund based on surveys by the tehsildar, revenue inspector and block development officer. They also sought safe drinking water, bleaching powder and medical facilities in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, Chakradhar Naik alleged that when he had earlier sought a polythene sheet after a wall of his house collapsed, Revenue Inspector (RI) Sarat Sahu allegedly told him that he would receive one only after the entire house collapsed.
Sahu, however, rejected the allegation as completely false and baseless. He said Chakradhar had never approached him or lodged such a complaint earlier. According to Sahu, polythene sheets had already been provided to around 30-35 affected people as per government guidelines.
Sahu said he personally visited Chakradhar’s house and provided a polythene sheet immediately. He also assured that all eligible assistance would be provided to the affected family as per government norms.
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