Heavy rains under the impact of a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal triggered floods in Malkangiri, Rayagada and Kandhamal districts.
The major rivers in the three districts are overflowing due to heavy downpour since Tuesday, submerging many roads and bridges.
Rainwater was flowing five-feet over several bridges at Korkonda, Kankarkonda and MV 37 affecting vehicular communications in many parts of Malkangiri district.
People and hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on both sides of the bridges. Besides, many roads in the remote areas of the district remained waterlogged due to the heavy rains.
On the other hand, incessant rain paralysed normal life in Rayagada district. Train services on the Rayagada-Titilagarh route was severely affected after the railway track near Ambodala railway station got washed away in flash flood triggered by heavy rainfall.
Besides, road communication was disrupted in five villages in Rayagada as water is flowing above a bridge near Hatamuniguda on Malisiripur-Paridiguda road. Moreover, a road near Khamasingi in Kolnara block also got washed away in the flash flood leading to the disruption of vehicular communications between Badakhilapadar and Khamasingi. Another canal bridge collapsed near Jugapadar affecting communications to Moringa.
Besides, the water level in the Bansadhara river was reportedly on the rise in Gunupur area and flowing above the danger mark. The water level in Nagabali river also increased, said sources.
In Kandhamal district, a portion of the river bridge connecting Baliguda and Jharipani near Sirila village got washed away in flash flood. A bridge in Tumudibandh block also caved in disrupting communication to many villages in the region.
Besides, many low-lying areas in Ganjam and Gajapati districts were waterlogged due to the torrential rains in the last 48 hours.
The flood situation is expected to aggravate further as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued Red warning for south interior districts of the State.
As per the Regional Office of the IMD, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at a few places over districts of south-west Odisha and Gajapati, Ganjam and Subarnapur, with extremely heavy rain at isolated places in districts like Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Balangir, Nuapada and Boudh .
Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi has asked the Collectors of seven districts including Rayagada, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi to remain on high alert.
The SRC advised the Collectors to evacuate the people in vulnerable areas to safe shelters; open free kitchen in all shelters and make arrangements for drinking water, dry food, lighting and sanitation.
“Health teams should visit all the shelters and take care of the sick people. Wherever houses have been damaged due to heavy rainfall, polythene sheets should be provided immediately to the affected households,” directed the SRC.