Bridge washed away; landslides damage rail route
The low pressure-triggered heavy rains on Sunday night created havoc across Koraput district. A bridge near Mundaguda over the Telangiri river was washed away, cutting off 14 Gram Panchayats from the outer world.
The flood in the Telengiri river threw normal life out of gear in several villages. Hundreds of families were marooned as flood water gushed in their villages.
Crops in large patches of agriculture land were damaged. Villages such as Kumuli, Kamata, Samalaguda, Bhujuniguda and many nearby hamlets were under water.
Students of various residential schools were shifted to safer places. In some flood hit places, relief operation was launched on Monday.
Rain water also flew at a height of 5 feet on the National Highway 201 near Parali, disrupting traffic between Nabarangpur and Koraput. Many passenger buses and other vehicles were detained near the Parli bridge.
Because of land slides near Maliguda tunnel, Jagdalpur-Durg Express train was halted at Jarti station. About 77 passengers had to walk a mile before being ferried in a South Eastern Railways (SER) arranged bus. They were sent safely to Jagdalpur.
landslides caused extensive damages in Kporaput- Jeypore rail route at 19 places. DRM (SER) Anil Kumar said it would take another day to clear the route and restore the service.
Meanwhile, marooned people cried for relief at many parts of the district. District emergency officer Rameswar Pradhan said, “We are trying our level best to reach out to the people in the flood affected areas and provide them relief.”