Vehicles negotiate Gajapati Nagar eighth line as schoolchildren wade through the waterlogged stretch in Berhampur on Monday. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 4: Several parts of the state experienced a flood-like condition following incessant rain induced by low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.

Undivided Sambalpur and Balasore districts have received heavy rainfall during the last 24 hours.

Mahanadi is also facing a flood threat as excess water from Hirakud reservoir is being released through 17 sluice gates and also due to incessant rain downstream.

Several areas of Athgarh and Tigiria blocks of Cuttack districts were inundated by Mahanadi floodwater.

The upper catchments of north Odisha rivers such as Budhabalanga, Subararekha, Baitarini and Salandi have also received heavy rainfall, triggering flood threat. The forecast of more rainfall over the next 24 hours has also raised flood scare, forcing the state administration to alert collectors of 12 districts.

Two deaths have been reported from Boudh and Sambalpur districts. While one person died in Boudh district due to wall collapse, another person was swept away by floodwater in Sambalpur district.

CUTTACK

The district administration today deputed a team of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force to Athgarh block following reports of floodwater entering few villages particularly in the lower catchments areas of the Mahanadi.

Apart from Athgarh, floodwater has also entered a few panchayats in Tigiria block, while Chasahara village was cut-off from rest of the district.

Athgarh sub-collector Madhusudan Mishra said that floodwater was flowing on the Chasahara road and Gainala bridge at Tigiria block and other low-lying areas.

“There are reports that floodwater of the Mahanadi has entered the premises of Maa Bhattarika temple in Badamba block,” said Mishra.

“We have reports of floodwater entering few areas in Tigiria and Athagarh while the district administration has is alert to the situation while relief materials have also been stocked at various points,” said collector Girish SN.

As per latest reports, over 9, 00,000 cusecs of floodwater was flowing at Mundali while nearly 10 lakh cusecs of water is likely to pass through by tonight.

SAMBALPUR

Normality is yet to be restored in the city that experienced heavy waterlogging yesterday. Around 5,000 people are still taking shelter in 22 relief centres across the city.

Following heavy rain on Sunday, water entered into houses, business establishments and offices at several parts of the city. Even rainwater was seen flowing over city roads.

“I had never experienced such a situation,” said Sakhipara resident Antaryami Panigrahi.

Several parts of the city, including Gopalmal, Dasmati Colony, Sakhipara, A.N. Guha Lane, Bahalpara, Kumbharpara, Golebazar, Modipara, SRIT Colony, Thakurpara and Housing Board Colony were affected.

The city also faced long hour of power cut on Sunday and electric supply is yet to be restored in some areas.

“Rainwater has receded from our area, but there is no electricity. This has also affected,” said Housing Board Colony resident Sraban Pati.

Babrubahan Behera, who runs a grocery shop, said: “I had purchased several articles for the marriage of my daughter. However, water swept away everything. Water also swept away the refrigerator and the cooler from my house.”

Sambalpur collector Balwant Singh said: “The situation arose because of the unprecedented rainfall on Sunday. As much as 150mm of rain was recorded in the first three hours.”

BALASORE

In Balasore town, most of the roads were out of bound due to waterlogging. The worst hit due to the rain was the headquarters hospital.

Elsewhere in the district, all the rivers are swelling.

Jalka was flowing above danger level, while rivers such as Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Kansabansha were rising steadily. An Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force team was sent to Khaira to evacuate marooned villagers.

BHADRAK

In the neighbouring district of Bhadrak, Salandi was flowing above the danger mark. Several parts of Bhadrak district headquarters town such as Apartibindha and Kuansa were submerged. District collector Laxmi Narayan Mishra said the administration was ready to face any eventuality. People living in vulnerable areas were shifted to safer places. Cooked food was served to affected people.

JAJPUR

The district recorded around 172mm rain in the last 24 hours, following which the Baitarani and the Brahmani are in spate. The situation is feared to turn worse as the major rivers are said to be rising.

Baitarani was flowing close to the danger mark at Anandapur and Akhuapada, while the Brahmani was rising menacingly.

Met department has predicted heavy to very heavy rain in interior and coastal Odisha under influence of the low pressure formed in the north-west of the Bay of Bengal.

“We have made all the preparation to face any emergency situation. All the line officers have been asked to stock food stuff, medicines and cattle feeds in their respective areas,” said Jajpur collector Anil Kumar Samal.

JAGATSINGHPUR

District administration has stepped up vigil even though water level in the Mahanadi river system stayed below the danger mark in vulnerable parts of the district.

“The administration has taken all possible efforts to ensure the safety of people living in low-lying areas close to the vulnerable embankment points mainly in Tirtol and Kujang,” said collector Satya Kumar Mallick.

ANGUL

Athmallik was cut off from the rest of the state as the road communication from both Angul and Boudh were hit due to torrential rain and Mahanadi floodwater.

One gram panchayat was totally cut off as river water also gushed into the town areas of Athmallik.

Mahanadi floodwater also inundated vast areas of Tikarapara tourist spot. Its link with Angul was also cut off at two places.

District collector Sachin Ramachandra Jadav rushed to Athmallik.

“We have made all steps to rescue the people and provide relief to the flood affected people. Three hundred residents of a village have been shifted to safer places,” he said.

The road communication link between Dhenkanal and Kamakhyanagar has also been hit as rainwater is flowing over the road at Mahulpal.

KALAHANDI

Most parts of Kalahandi and Nabarangpur districts remained cut off from rest of west Odisha as floodwater continued to flow above the bridge over river Hati near Junagarh on NH-26. Sources said that incessant rainfall in Kalampur and Jayapatna in the upstream of the river had triggered opening of a gate of Mangalpur barrage leading to swelling of the river.

Junagarh block development officer Trilochan Mohanty said: “We are ready to tackle any kind of situation. There is enough relief materials with us and the rescue team is also ready.”

BALANGIR

Two persons were injured when wall of a house collapsed on them in Semiliguda village of Agalpur block. The two injured have been identified as Karuna Pradhan, 50, and her 10-month-old granddaughter. The two could not be shifted to the hospital as waist high water was flowing on the bridge between Dunguripali and Harbhanga.