Bhubaneswar: Heavy rains triggered by a low pressure in the Bay of Bengal created havoc across the state Monday as flood water entered many residential areas. Several bridges and roads were washed away disrupting communication. However, no loss of life has been reported from anywhere.
Incessant rain not only created problems in rural areas, but also deluged several urban areas, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri. The situation was worse in Rayagada and Gajapati districts.
Meanwhile, an ODRAF team Monday rescued 14 persons, including 13 cowherds, who were marooned in an islet after being surrounded by the floodwaters of Udanti river near Chapria village in Kalahandi district
A bridge connecting Bissamcu-ttack block with district headquarters in Rayagada was washed away, while another connecting Hatamuniguda and Paikadak-ulaguda was also swept away in flash floods. Flood water overflowed in the Bhejipadar canal.
According to sources, 30 villages including Paikadakulaguda, Silipanga, Baksisiripur, Badalima, Thuapadi, Bhejipadar, Kutragad and Hukumatala have been cut-off from the remaining world.
In Chandipur block the water flowed seven feet over the bridges. Piskapanga, Turiguda, Gelpada, Hembruru, Kodisur, Gendabaghu and other villages in this block were submerged in the flood water, sources said.
Similarly, residents of Gunpur-Gumuda-Gudari remained marooned due to the flood-like situation in these villages. The local administration has asked the residents to move to safer places as the rain is likely to lash for another 24 hours, as predicted by the MeT department.
At Gunpur in Rayagada and Kasinagar in Gajapati, river Vansadhara had crossed the danger level Sunday. However, the water level receded quickly too.
Several old structures in the Holy Town, Puri, are either collapsed or are still submerged. The boundary wall of the sacred Markanda pond collapsed, while ‘Bada Danda’ (Grand Road) is still under knee-deep water, making it difficult for devotees communicating to and from Alarnath temple in Brahmagiri. Incessant rain also triggered flood-like situations at many places in Brahmagiri, including the national highway. Water entered the Nuagaon Community Health Centre and the block office premises. Many parts of the capital city and Cuttack were also submerged in knee-deep water. Two buses were seen stranded in knee-deep rainwater for an hour in front of the ISKCON temple on NH-16 at Nayapalli here. Keeping the situation in view, authorities blocked the busy road connecting Indradhanu Market Square and CRP Square to ensure smooth flow of vehicles through the stretch.
Cuttack district administration declared closure of all schools in the district Monday following heavy downpour since Sunday evening. Denizens had a tough time reaching their destinations as incessant rains inundated several low-lying areas restricting movement of traffic.
Despite torrential rains in the state, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi has ruled out any flood-like situation in any part of the state. He said that the intensity of rain would decrease from Tuesday, but the state administration is on alert and monitoring the situation round-the-clock.
“Maximum rainfall of 100.7 mm was recorded in Nuapada, while Bhawanipatna block in Kalahandi district has received 297 mm rainfall. We are taking necessary measures,” Sethi said.
“Temporary roads have been washed out and weak bridges have collapsed at different places across the state due to incessant rain. However, the damage was less in Kalyansinghpur of Rayagada district”, the SRC added.
Situation to improve Tuesday noon: IMD
Bhubaneswar: Talking to Orissa POST, director of Bhubaneswar Met Centre HR Biswas said, “Heavy rainfall will continue in some parts of north Odisha for another day while the amount of rainfall will decrease in all other parts of the state from Tuesday afternoon.” However, the state will again witness heavy rainfall from July 19 or 20, as another low pressure is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal, he said. So far, the state has received 8 per cent deficit rainfall, the director added. Meanwhile, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has opened a control room in the city to deal with the emergent situation.