Sambalpur/Kendujhar: Two persons, including a two-year-old boy, were killed in separate wall-collapse incidents as heavy rain lashed several parts of Odisha over the past 24 hours, with four places recording more than 100 mm of rainfall, officials said.
The rain was triggered by a well-marked low-pressure area over Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining areas of north coastal Odisha and northwest Bay of Bengal, the IMD said, adding that it was likely to move west-northwestwards across north Odisha during the next 24 hours.
Under its influence, Tensa in Kendujhar district recorded 162.2 mm of rainfall, followed by Barkot in Deogarh with 127.2 mm and Hatadihi in Kendujhar with 118.5 mm during the past 24 hours.
Fifteen other places in the state also received heavy rainfall during the period, it said.
All schools in Bargarh district remained closed due to heavy rain, they said.
A boy allegedly died after a portion of a mud wall collapsed on him while he was playing in Govindpur police station area of Sambalpur district Sunday, police said.
The deceased has been identified as Rajbir Karsel, a native of Jharsuguda district.
In a similar incident, a woman was allegedly killed after a wall of her house collapsed on her while she was sleeping last night in the Champua police station area of Kendujhar district.
The deceased has been identified as Purnima Mohant, police said.
Champua police recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem. Locals demanded compensation for the deceased’s family.
Forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall, the IMD issued a red alert (take action) for Sundaragada and Kendujhar districts, while Jharsuguda, Baragada, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola and Mayurbhanj districts were placed under an orange category (be prepared to take action) for Monday.
Odisha weather: IMD issues red alert for Sundaragada, Kendujhar
Heavy rainfall is also expected in Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kataka, Dhenkanal, Sonpur, Boudhagada, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Nayagada districts during the day, it said.
In view of the IMD forecast, the district administration closed all schools in Bargarh district for the day, officials said.
Squally weather, with wind speeds reaching 40-50 kmph, is very likely along and off the Odisha coast till Tuesday, the IMD said.
As sea conditions are expected to remain rough to very rough, the weather office advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the Odisha coast till Tuesday.
Local Cautionary Signal No. III continued to be hoisted at all ports in the state.
