In Pics: Flood Situation in Odisha worsens, four dead

Rains triggered by a low pressure over Bay of Bengal since Saturday have caused flooding in Odisha with the state government sounding alerts across 12 districts, engaging Coast Guard and ODRAF units.

Odisha continues to remain in the grip of flash floods and heavy rain with vast areas in the Malkangiri and Nabrangpur districts also inundated due to flood in small hilly rivers and canals, snapping road communication.

PTI

While two persons had perished in floods in Kalahandi district earlier, two more deaths were reported in Malkangiri district yesterday.

Flooding has spread from Rayagada to Malkangiri and Nabrangpur districts due to a swelling of catchment areas despite lower rain.

In Nabarangpur, at least 6,000 people were evacuated as flood water submerged more than a dozen villages. One Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) unit was pressed into service to undertake rescue and relief operation, Special Relief Commissioner’s office told PTI.

ODRAF team cuts away at felled trees to clear blocked roads after flooding in Malkangiri district.

In Nabarangpur, at least 6,000 people have been evacuated, with the total number of people affected estimated 65,000 people affected by the flood situation.

Stranded people look across a flooded road in Malkangiri district

Earlier this week, breaches in the Nagabali and Kalyani rivers of Rayagada district affected over 7,000 people in Kalyansinghpur block.

The flood situation “slightly improved” in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts with the water level receding “to a large extent”, the SRC said.

The Coast Guard, ODRAF as well as the CRPF have been employed in relief and rescue operations across affected areas.

In Rayagada, four road bridges were washed away, while in Kalahandi, Hati river was flowing over the bridge connecting Junagad and Bhawanipatna. While rivers continued to swell in neighbouring Koraput district, the district administration rescued 16 pregnant women from inaccessible villages of the district and sheltered them in Maa Gruha (maternity waiting centres).

Civilians pass by an uprooted tree as ODRAF members work towards clearing debris in the background.

Five bridges, including two railway bridges, have been washed away in flood water and four roads damaged. The teams of ODRAF, fire service and CRPF were engaged in rescue and relief operation.

With roads inundated, the state government has taken to Indian Air Force and Coast Guard aircraft to provide relief supplies.

Emergency medicine stock including anti-snake venom have been stored in community health centres of the district. Free kitchens have also been opened at many places to provide cooked food to the flood-hit people.