Bhubaneswar: At least two persons died due to wall collapse, over 150 houses were damaged, and roads submerged cutting off connectivity in many places, as low pressure-induced heavy rain lashed the state Thursday. More than 11,000 people have been directly hit by downpours in Koraput, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, and Kalahandi, while the rain wreaked havoc in Bolangir, Ganjam, Gajapati, and Rayagada, the special relief commissioner’s (SRC) office said.
The SRC office said two persons died due to wall collapse in Kalahandi district. The deceased were identified as Rusimani Sahu (49) of Dumermunda village and Binita Parabhoi (29), a resident of Harekrushnapur, under Lanjigarh block of Kalahandi district, an official of the SRC office said. Another person was injured when a tree fell on him near Pajibahli Chowk in Madanpur Rampur block of Kalahandi. The injured has been admitted to M Rampur community health centre, a local revenue official said.
During the day, 40 houses were damaged due to rain in Koraput, 14 in Malkangiri, 63 in Kandhamal, and 31 in Kalahandi districts, the official said. Bolangir block received the highest rainfall of 215 mm till 8.30 am prompting the district administration to announce the closure of all schools and Anganwadi centres in the district. Drain water overflowing on the main road and in the adjoining lanes and by-lanes entered into houses, business establishments, and government offices. Rain has destroyed properties worth several lakhs. Bolangir Collector Chanchal Rana, municipality chairperson Lika Sahu, and executive officer Biswambhar Mishra reviewed the situation.
The low-pressure area formed in Bay of Bengal has resulted in heavy rainfall in Malkangiri district. Floodwater over five feet is reportedly flowing above a submerged bridge near MV96 village along National Highway-326 under Kalimela block and many others, official sources said. The submergence of the bridge has disrupted all communications between Malkangiri and Motu areas in the district. As a result, hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on both sides of the bridge including a MalkangiriHyderabad passenger bus.
Normal life was affected in Kandhamal district as the rainwater submerged many roads in Kotgarh and Phiringia blocks which received more than 100 mm precipitation in the last 24 hours. The incessant rainfall has played havoc in Umerkote and Papadahandi blocks in Nabarangpur district where rain has disrupted normal life by causing houses to collapse, submerging the farmlands, and disrupting the traffic. Road communication to Maidalpur, Majhiguda, Sanabarli, and Jharigaon block was disrupted after the bridge got submerged with rainwater overflowing on it near Ghikhandi in Papadahandi block. Crops on hundreds of acres of farmlands were destroyed after rainwater inundated the farmlands. The authorities have opened 14 gates of Hirakud and the current water level of the reservoir stands at 628.65 ft at 3 pm Thursday against its water-holding capacity of 630 cubic feet.
