Due to unabated rains for the past four days, flood situation has worsened in Gajapati district with canals and rivers in seven blocks swelling high.
The water level in Bansadhara river in Kashinagar block was flowing above the danger mark following which floodwater engulfed several villages including Kidigaan and Balada. Besides, roads were flooded with 3-4 ft water as incessant rains for four consecutive days caused flood situation in the low-lying areas of Paralakhemundi, Chidananda Vihar, Siddharth Nagar and Kamakshya Nagar situated adjacent to Mahendra Tanaya river.
With directives from the district administration, Fire Brigade Department personnel evacuated a large number of stranded people to safer places by boats on Thursday night, sources said.
Due to low pressure-induced torrential rains, Mohana, R Udaygiri, Nuagarh, Rayagarh, Kashinagar and Goshani blocks were inundated with floodwaters. Over a hundred houses were collapsed due to the unrelenting heavy downpours which also destroyed agricultural lands at various blocks. The floodwaters flowing on the main roads have also damaged culverts at many places bringing traffic to a grinding halt, sources further said.
Parala MlA K Narayan Rao, district BJD president Basant Dash, Parala Municipality Chaiman lalita Rasamswami along with district Congress members K Suriarao, Jaymohan Rao, K Ramaswami and Nagar Congress president Basant Kumar Panda visited the affected villages and helped in relief and rehabilitation works.