Heavy rain disrupts normal life in Odisha
Incessant rain triggered by a low-pressure system disrupted normal life in parts of Odisha on Saturday, with roads and bridges submerged at several places, while the state Government maintained a close watch on the situation amid an IMD forecast of more rain over the next 48 hours, officials said.
Malkangiri in southern Odisha was the worst affected district, recording 804 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending this morning.
The district administration has ordered closure of all schools, anganwadi centres and liquor shops in Malkangiri in view of waterlogging and flood-like situation. “The State Government is maintaining close and continuous monitoring of the weather and river situation. Necessary precautionary and response measures are in place, and the overall situation remains under control,” the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said in a statement.
The state recorded an average rainfall of 24.5 mm during the 24 hours, with Chitrakonda block in Malkangiri recording the highest rainfall of 192 mm, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Five blocks recorded more than 100 mm rainfall, while 33 blocks received between 50 mm and 100 mm, IMD officials said.
Director of the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, Manorama Mohanty said the state received 1,247.5 mm rainfall between June 1 and September 12, against the normal average of 997 mm, a surplus of 25.1 per cent.
Mohanty said the low-pressure area over the northwest-westcentral Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coasts was likely to become more marked and move west-northwestwards across north Coastal Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha during the next 24 hours.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert (Be prepared) for heavy rainfall of 7 cm to 11 cm at isolated places in Nuapada, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Koraput districts. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and winds of 30-40 kmph are also likely in Balasore, Sundergarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam, it said.
The Water Resources Department said all rivers in the state were below their respective danger levels and were being closely monitored. As of Saturday morning, the Mahanadi near Cuttack was at 22.91 metres, the Brahmani at Panposh at 172.66 metres, the Baitarani at Anandpur at 34.79 metres and the Jalaka at Mathani at 6.46 metres. The Hirakud reservoir level stood at 629.10 feet at 9 am, against its full reservoir level of 630 feet.
The SRC office said four blocks in Malkangiri — Malkangiri, Mathili, Kalimela and Podia — were being closely monitored. ODRAF teams have been deployed in Mathili and Kalimela as a precautionary measure.
Water was overflowing over Kangrukonda, Pangam, MV-96 and Kanyashrama bridges, it said. Rainfall stopped in Malkangiri in the evening, but the district remained under close watch, officials said. However, in view of several areas, including roads and bridges, being submerged in rainwater and keeping public safety in mind, district magistrate-cum-collector Prathamesh Arvind Rajeshirke ordered the closure of all liquor shops in the district.
All licence holders and shop managers have been directed to strictly comply with the order. The administration also warned that strict legal action would be taken against any person or establishment found violating the order by illegally selling or serving liquor.
“The order has been issued as some people, under the influence of liquor, drive on submerged roads and have lost their lives in the past. To prevent such incidents, the closure of liquor shops has been ordered in the interest of public safety,” a senior official said.
