Incessant rainfall triggered by a depression over the Bay of Bengal has caused a flood-like situation in the southern parts of Odisha.
The tribal-dominated Malkangiri district has been worst affected by flash floods triggered by an average rainfall of 190mm in 24 hours, leaving hundreds of people marooned.
Revenue and disaster minister Suresh Pujari on Saturday reviewed the situation with the special relief commissioner and collectors of Malkangiri, Koraput and other southern districts. District collectors have been asked to evacuate people from the low-lying areas and arrange food for them.
Heavy rainfall caused havoc with more than 200mt rainfall being recorded in four blocks of the district — Chitrakonada, Korkunda, Khaiaput and Kalimela. With many roads submerged, communication between Malkangiri and Kalimela has been badly hit.
Floodwater enters a house in Malkangiri.
Vehicular traffic on National Highway 326 (connecting Vijayawada and Ranchi) has come to a grinding halt. Communication from the district headquarters to Motu, Mathili, and Balimela has been completely cut off, with roads and bridges submerged at various locations.
As rainwater entered houses in the Malkangiri municipality area, hundreds of people held a road blockade in the town to protest against the alleged apathy of the administration towards their plight. Later, the protest was withdrawn following the intervention of senior officials.
In many areas, water is flowing three feet above the bridges, forcing the district administration to deploy police to stop vehicles from moving on these roads.
“The Poteru river bridge near Poteru (NH-326) is submerged. Kanyashram and Challagudu bridges are also submerged. Podia-Kalimeal road is affected,” said the
state government.
Sources said the heavy rainfall has badly hit the life of Bondas, one of the oldest tribal communities of the state residing in the upland areas of Malkangiri.
The special relief commissioner said: “During July, Odisha has deficit average rainfall of 21.9 per cent and the current rainfall due to depression shall minimise the deficit and help the farmers for cultivation. The situation is under control.”
