Bhubaneswar: At least eight people have lost their lives due to rain and flood-related incidents in Odisha, informed Special Relief Commissioner (SSRC) Bishnupada Sethi on Tuesday.
While two persons have died in Kalahandi district, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal, Malkangiri have recorded one death each either due to flash flood, snakebites or mudslides.
In last 24 hours, Odisha has recorded an average rainfall of 66.6 mm. At least five districts have recorded more than 100 mm average rainfall, said Sethi in a press conference here.
While Bolangir has recorded the maximum 226.3 mm of rain Boudh witnessed 169.7 mm followed by Kalahandi 160.4 mm, Sonepur 139.9 mm and Kandhamal 125 mm of rainfall, respectively.
Karlamunda block of Kalahandi district has recorded rainfall of 608 mm, the highest amount of rainfall recorded in any block this season.
Sethi said at least three villages have been affected in Mohangiri gram panchayat in M Rampur block due to flooding of Kaliganga river. Around 90 persons have been safely sheltered in Sarabeda School as the village has been marooned in water due to incessant rain.
In Kandhamal district, diversions near NH 59 near Baliguda (Bataguda) and Tumudibandh (Mandalpadar) connecting to Kalahandi have been made as the roads have been washed away due to heavy rainfall.
“Today except Baliguda area, other blocks in Kandhamal district received moderate rainfall. ODRAF team along with all field functionaries have deployed at Landagaon and Khamankhol GP in Baliguda with all food stock to tackle any untoward situation,” said Sethi. Diversion Work in NH 59 has been completed near Bataguda (Baliguda) and at Tumudibandh the work is still going on. Restoration is in progress, he added.
In Subarnapur district at least three villages in Tarabha block have been affected due to heavy rain. In Boudh too, people from three villages in Kantamal block have been evacuated. Evacuation is on in five more villages.
At least seven Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams have been deployed in Boudh, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada and Kandhamal districts to carry out relief and rescue operation on a war footing manner.
In view of the flood-like situation in Bolangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi and Bargarh districts, Collectors of the four districts declared closure of all schools and colleges on Tuesday.
