KORAPUT: The
Koraput administration has sounded a
high alert across the district to meet exigencies following the IMD’s heavy rainfall warning on Monday and Tuesday under the influence of another low pressure over
the Bay of Bengal.
According to collector (Koraput), Madhusudan Mishra, officials have been asked not to leave their places of posting for the next two days and tehsildars have been asked to remain vigilant and take steps to initiate rescue operations at the earliest in case of any landslides.
“Currently, the situation is under control and all rivers of the district are flowing below the danger mark. However, heavy rainfall may lead to swelling of the Surli flowing on the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border under Kotpad block and officials have been kept on alert to tackle any eventuality,” the collector said.
Villagers would be shifted to safer places if the waters of the river enter the villages, he added.
Official sources said the public works department and rural development departments have been asked to clear road blockades if any, and adequate stocks of medicines and relief materials have been kept at the concerned hospitals and block headquarters.
In Rayagada district, the Kalyani, Jhanjabati, Nagabali and Bansadhara rivers are flowing below the danger mark, but the IMD has declared yellow warning for the district till Tuesday evening.
The administration has deployed a team of ODRAF at Bissamkatak and Ramnaguda blocks. “We are constantly monitoring the situation,” said collector (Rayagada) Pramod Behera