Odisha: Heavy rain, high tide precede Cyclone Yaas in Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur districts

KENDRAPADA: The coastal districts of Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur on Monday received very heavy rainfall accompanied by gusty winds and high tide, under the influence of Cyclone Yaas, which is expected to make landfall on the state’s coast on Wednesday. The incessant rainfall has led to several roads and low-lying areas becoming water-logged. The inhabitants of a rehabilitation colony with a population of around 4,000 at Bagapatia under the Rajnagar block of Kendrapada district have been the worst-hit.“Last year, the district administration had promised to build concrete roads in our colony to prevent water-logging problems, but nothing has been done so far. Water has gushed into several houses,” Sudrashan Rout of Bagapatia said. Residents of Musadiha, Dalesahi, Balisahi, Lokanathapada and Joribala near the Paradip port with a combined population of 9,000 are facing flood-like situation.
The Paradip port is on high alert. “Loading and unloading activities at the port have also been suspended. The Paradip Port Trust (PPT) is prepared to meet any eventuality,” Vinit Kumar, the chairman of PPT, said. The drains in the port town have been cleared on a war-footing to avoid any possible water-logging problem. Four teams of PPT with chain saws and pay loaders are ready to function round-the-clock during the cyclone to clear the roads in the event of trees being uprooted by strong winds. As part of the precautionary measures, no inward movement of cargo ships is being permitted from 10pm on Sunday.