Bhubaneswar, Sept. 21: Traffic movement was disrupted on National Highway No. 26 after water from the Hati river flooded the route at Junagarh in Kalahandi district.

An official at the special relief commissioner’s office said that over 160mm rainfall caused a flash flood in the area yesterday with rain water flowing 2ft above the bridge affecting the road communication.

Commuters faced a lot of trouble following disruption of traffic on the busy highway route. Many could not avail themselves of the stretch and had to take other routes to reach their respective destinations.

Local people said they had rescued a man who was washed away in the floodwater. However, officials at the special relief commissioner’s office denied the incident.

In another development, deputy relief commissioner Pravat Mohapatra said that following the incessant rain over the past two days, the water level in the Hati river rose, and subsequently, it flooded the bridge. However, intensity of the downpour has started reducing since this evening. The floodwater, therefore, is also receding at a good pace.

“The traffic movement has become normal now. By tonight, everything will be restored,” said Mohapatra.

This year, this was the fourth time that floodwater disrupted traffic movement on this national highway that connects the district with neighbouring state capital Raipur, a major trade centre.

An official of the regional meteorological department said that though there were not chances of heavy rainfall in the southern part of the state, a low pressure had been formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal.

This, as expected, would trigger moderate to heavy rainfall in most parts of the state.

Besides, the officials also sounded alert for fishermen, who have been asked not to venture into the sea in the next two days as the wind speed is likely to cross 60km per hour and the sea would remain rough.