Low-pressure-induced incessant rainfall has disrupted daily life across Odisha, causing widespread inundation in several areas in the southern districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, and Nabarangpur and leaving more than 100 villages marooned due to river flood in the north, officials said.
The entire state of Odisha, including the already flood-affected districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur, experienced heavy rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the rain intensified after the low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal became well-marked in the morning.
The IMD predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in Koraput and Malkangiri districts till 8.30 am on Thursday.
The weather office also forecast heavy rainfall in 28 other districts.
The IMD official further said that because of the well-marked low pressure, the state is set to encounter another prolonged spell of rainfall for the next three days.
According to sources at the revenue and disaster management department, Jeypore received the highest rainfall at 19 cm followed by Kotpad 16 cm, Borigumma 16 cm, Nandahandi and Nandapur 13 cm each, Lamataput and Koraput 12 cm and Similiguda 11 cm.
A report from Koraput district stated that some villages in the Boipariguda block were flooded after receiving 306 mm of rainfall. Boriguma followed with 155.8 mm of rain. Overall, six blocks in Koraput received over 100 mm of rain, while the district as a whole registered an average rainfall of 115 mm.
In Koraput, communication with neighbouring Telangana and Chhattisgarh as rainwater flowed on National Highway-326 near Keraput Chhack under Boipariguda block.
Koraput’s revenue department official said that the disruption occurred after the Kururu river swelled and spilled over, submerging a stretch of the highway. Traffic on the NH connecting Telengana came to a standstill, with hundreds of vehicles, including long-distance passenger buses and goods carriers, stranded on both sides.
Eyewitnesses said water was flowing nearly four feet above the road, making it extremely unsafe for vehicles to cross.
Widespread waterlogging was also witnessed in the Jeypore town and several low-lying areas were inundated as rainwater entered houses, forcing residents to spend hours draining water from their homes.
A similar situation was reported in the Malkangiri district as the people were unable to come out of their houses due to incessant rain since Tuesday afternoon.
Normal life was also affected in Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, and other southern Odisha districts. The Railways cancelled at least two trains, including the up and down night express trains between Visakhapatnam and Kirandul on Wednesday, and short-terminated several trains keeping in view the incessant rain in the southern region
While water levels in major rivers like Subarnarekha and Baitarani flew below the danger level at all places in north Odisha, the inundation continues in low-lying areas, another report said.
A revenue department official said, the affected people in Baliapal, Bhograi and Jaleswar block in Balasore district, Dasrathpur in Jajpur district, Dhamnagar, Tihidi and Bhandaripokhari in Bhadrak distsrict, were unable to return to their villages as the flood water still stands around four feet high on roads even as the water level in rivers receded.
People in the affected areas are being provided with cooked food at relief centres and dry food in their villages, with some seeking refuge on the upper floors of buildings.
Some people stay on the first floor of the pucca building in some villages of Balasore and Jajpur, they said.
Water Resource Department Engineer-in-Chief CS Padhi said no fresh flood threat has been reported from other rivers across the state. It would take some time for water to drain out from low-lying areas where inundation has occurred.
