Road communication in most parts of Gajapati district has been disrupted as major culverts and earthen roads in rural areas were washed away in recent incessant rains.
Flash floodwaters on Saturday afternoon washed away a newly-constructed culvert on Harbhangi river, named Atharanala, which had joined Mohana town with Anugur GP of Nuagada block the district. For this, several villages like Antaraba, Badasindhaba and Chudangapur panchayat under Mohana block and Kirama and Anuguru panchayat of Nuagada block have remained cut off. Over 30,000 residents of these hilly villages have been affected. The 50-foot-long was constructed recently after cyclone Phailin hit the area.
The bridge was constructed by contractor Ashok Karji & team under the supervision of Junior Engineer Narayana Padhi, informed Assistant BDO of Mohana block lingaraj Sahu.
Earlier on June 12, on complaints of locals, an inquiry committee comprising PD-DRDA, District Planning Officer, Gajapati Zilla Parishad president, vice-president and ZP members of Mohana zone and BDO and Thasildar of Mohana had verified the culvert and found that it was of low quality. The committee had also asked concerned contractor and JEE to repair and reconstruct the soon, Rashmee Rathan, a ZP member said.
