The Odisha government today deployed seven Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams along with Fire Service teams to tackle situation in the wake of heavy rains.
Deputy Relief Commissioner of Odisha Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra said though ODRAF teams have been deployed in seven districts but five districts –Bolangir, Boudh, Kalahandi, Subarnapur and Kandhamal were badly affected by heavy rain triggered by a low pressure. He said, during the last 24 hours the five districts have received more than 100 MM of rainfall on an average.
While Bolangir district recorded 226.3 MM rainfall, Boudh got 169.7MM, Kalahandi 160.4 MM, Subarnapur 139.6 MM and Kandhamal received 125.3 MM rainfall during the last 24 hours.
Karlamunda block in Kalahandi district recorded the highest rainfall of 608 MM.
Two blocks in Kalahandi and Bolangir recorded a rainfall of more than 400 MM, four blocks in Kalahandi/Bolangir have received rainfall of more than 300 MM.
Four more blocks in Kalahandi/Bolangir district have recorded rainfall of between 200 and 300 MM while 40 blocks have received rainfall between 100 MM and 200 MM.
Mohapatra said, as many as eight people have either died or missing during the last three weeks in the state due to rain. All the major rivers in the state are however, flowing below the danger level, he said.
The Deputy SRC said, three people, one each in Kalahandi and Koraput and Malkangiri died due to wall collapse, two people one each in Nabarangpur and Malkangiri died of snake bite and one person was swept by in Kandhamal district.
Two people one each from Kalahandi, and Kandhamal were reported missing.
He said, people in three villages in Kantamal block of Boudh district have been evacuated and evacuation is going on in five more villages.
In Kalahandi district, three villages in Rampur block have been affected due to the flooding of Kaliganga river and 90 persons have been shifted to a school.
As many as 65 people were provided cooked food to villagers of Tejipada and Deulipada village sheltered in a school.
Road were cut off at Damakariakhunta bridge, Manikera and all roads to Mohangiri Panchayat in Kalahandi due to rain. Mohapatra said the diversion near NH 59 near Baliguda and Tumudibandh in Kandhamal district connecting Kalahandi has been washed away.
Railway sources here said, train services have been suspended between Deogaon Road-Baragarh, Lohisingha-Bolangir and in Barpalli- DInguripalli station in Sambalpur-Titilagarh railway section due to flooding of track at many locations.
The 18107/18108 Rourkela-Jagdalpur- Rourkela express, and the 18005/18006 Howarah-Jagadalpur-Howarah- Samaleswari express have been cancelled.
This apart five trains have been partially cancelled. East Coast Railway sources said the train services will resume after the water level recedes on the track.
Meanwhile, the collectors have ordered closure of all schools in Bolangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi and Bargarh as heavy rains lashed the districts throwing normal life out of gear.
