Floods triggered by Cyclone Titli-induced rain has affected the lives of lakhs of people in the three southern districts of Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada in the State.
The water levels in major rivers like Rushikulya and Bansadhara have crossed their danger marks, official sources said.
The Government has deployed NDRF, ODRAF and Odisha Fire Services personnel to combat the flood situation in the three districts which continued to be grim
Reports said the Government has also sought assistance of the Indian Navy to speed up relief and rescue operations.
Of the 22 blocks in Ganjam district, 13 were badly hit due to cyclone and floods.
Blocks like Aska, Purusottampur and Sanakhemundi was inundated by rainwater and after water from Rusikulya river entered into the villages, a senior official said. The Ganjam district administration has undertaken evacuation of people living near the river side and low-lying areas, he said adding that they have been housed in the multi-purpose shelters besides schools, colleges and Anganwadi Centres.
The connectivity in Lathipada-Shergad road in Ganjam was disrupted while a bridge on Badagada Jarau river was washed away following heavy rainfall, official sources said.
The swelling Mahendratanaya river submerged vast stretches of Gajapati district cutting off road communication between Andhra Pradesh and Paralakhemundi in Odisha’s Gajapati district, sources said.
The situation is Rayagad district also continued to be grim with many villages being cutoff.
Train services too were affected and at least 16 trains were cancelled and several others rescheduled by the East Coast Railway (ECoR) on Friday due to submergence of railway tracks. Water level on railway tracks in Berhampur-Palasa section was yet to recede due to continuous rains, an ECoR official said. The water level also touched the danger mark at a bridge between Ichhapuram and Jhadpudi stations in Brahampur-Palasa railway section, he said.
Regional Director of Indian Metereological Department (IMD) H R Biswas said heavy to very heavy rainfall would continue to lash parts of the State, including Baleswar, Bhadrak and Dhenkanal districts, till Saturday.
Two helicopters reached Ganjam and would started airdropping of relief materials from Saturday.