BHAWANIPATNA/MALKANGIRI/NABARANGPUR: The low pressure-induced heavy rains on Sunday caused large scale flooding in three districts of the State. While breach in canal embankment of Indravati project at three places inundated several villages in Kalahandi district, communication was snapped on arterial roads in Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts.
In Kalahandi, which received average 55.4 mm rainfall, the right canal of Indravati project breached at Ranibahal, Ghenuguda and Turiguma. The breaches measuring 25 to 30 feet led to flooding of cropland and submerged Turiguma, Khairmal, Dhamanguda and Palas villages. According to reports, standing crop in over 300 acre has been damaged.
Kalahandi Collector Amman Kumar Manik said Indravati project authorities have been asked to stop power generation and release of water to Hati river through Mangalpur barrage. There was also flash flood in Hati river as its water level increased due to heavy rain in its catchment areas. Matikhal, Biripur and Temra villages were inundated by flood water of Hati.
Meanwhile, the communication on Malkangiri-Balimela and Balimela-Chitrakonda routes in Malkangiri district was disrupted as three-ft rain water was flowing on the low lying bridges at MV-37 and near Korukonda. The road link between Balimela and Chitrakonda was also cut off due to the landslides near Nuaguda. The district registered 45.2 mm rainfall.
However, vehicular traffic on Balimela-Chitrakonda road resumed in the afternoon after a team of R&B officials rushed to the spot on the direction of Collector K Sudarshan Chakravarthy and cleared the road blockade.
Normal life in the southern parts of Nabarangpur district has been paralysed due to heavy rains in the last 48 hours. The district received average rainfall of 84.4 mm. Communication between Nabarangpur and Kalahandi was affected due to overflowing Guntat river near Taragam village. Vehicular movement was also paralysed in Nabarangpur and Umerkote.
The river was flowing 4 feet above the bridge on Monday morning. As a precautionary measure, vehicular movement over Guntat bridge on NH-26 near Taragam has been restricted by the district administration.Similarly, overflowing Turi river snapped road link between Papadahandi and Kodinga.
Nabarangpur Collector Rashmita Panda, who rushed to the flood affected areas to supervise rescue operation, told The Express that 450 persons of Temra, Chirma and Ghatbasuli villages under Kosagumuda block were evacuated by the afternoon. All these villages are located on the bank of Indravati river.Similarly, 200 persons of Deola villages were evacuated and shifted to safe shelters where free food has been arranged.
Panda said, requisition has been made for three units of ODRAF to be deployed in Kosagumuda block.
As there was heavy rains in the catchment areas of Indravati river on Sunday, three gates of Indravati Dam at Khatiguda were opened during the morning.