A woman was killed and as many as eight houses were damaged in a landslide that took place due to Hudhud in Paraja village on the Marloba hills under Putupada panchayat in Nuagada block of Gajapati district. The administration curiously knew about it only after a week to the mishap.
Communication to the hills was disrupted since October 12 as the only road between Nuagada block and R Udayagiri was blocked by mud and rocks that slipped down due to the landslide. “Motorbike movement is not possible to the area which remains cut off as the only connecting road has been blocked,” Nuagada BDO Dasarathi Surabu said. However, the district administration has sent a team to the affected area, located about 50 km from the block headquarters, he added.
A medical team will be sent with medicines and other items, Surabu informed adding that the tribal people in the area were safe. It was not possible to clear the ruins immediately in view of heavy rainfall in the area due to the Hudhud. Steps would be taken to restore normal traffic to Paraja village by clearing the wreckage soon, he assured.
On the other hand, BJP tribal leader Antarajami Gomango alleged, “The district authorities have failed to construct a culvert during the past fifty years which led to the present situation.”