Bhubaneswar, June 21: Flash floods in the southern districts of Malkangiri and Gajapati following incessant rain have disrupted road communication and telecommunication, apart from power supply.

It has been raining continuously in the region under the influence of the southwest monsoon and the low pressure formed over Bay of Bengal.

Officials in the regional meteorology centre here said there was heavy rainfall in the southern districts under the influence of cyclonic storm. Heavy rainfall has occurred during the past 24 hours in Nabarangpur (142.3mm), Koraput (84mm), Gajapati (75.8 mm), Rayagada (74.6mm), Kalahandi and Ganjam (70.9mm).

Director of the meteorology centre Sarat Chandra Sahu said the low pressure had developed into a deep depression and had crossed the Odisha coast and moved in the northwest direction.

Under its influence, there would be heavy rain in coastal and interior Odisha over the next 48 hours.

Sahu said the southwest monsoon had touched all the 30 districts of the state.

Met officials said that of the state's 30 districts, Malkangiri had received the highest amount of rainfall (317.2mm) over the past two days. Korkunda block of the district recorded 441mm rain.

Seven blocks of the district have been affected by flash floods and very heavy rainfall. Communication to many areas was disrupted with water inundating roads and bridges at many places. Kalimela and Korukonda blocks were cut off. Telephone and mobile phone services were partially affected, said sources.

Special relief commissioner J.V.V. Sharma said: "The flood situation in Malkangiri improved after the rain stopped this morning."

Connectivity on Jeypore-Malkangiri road has been restored with floodwater receding at Pangam and Saptadhara bridges.

Connectivity from Malkangiri to Motu and Balimela has also been restored. But it will take some more time to resume communication on the Kalimela-Padia road, said a district official.

Two units of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force from Koraput have reached Malkangiri to assist the district administration in search, rescue, relief operation and road clearance.

Ninety-nine fire service personnel have also moved to Malkangiri with 13 power boats, 19 mechanical saws and 13 inflatable tower lights.

Three persons from the MV-120 village under Korkonda block, which had been marooned when they had gone for fishing, were rescued by fire personnel. They had climbed a tree when the flash flood came in the hilly river.

Residents of Pujariguda village and Balisagar village were also rescued.

Official sources in Gajapti district said that six gram panchayats of Mohana were inundated by the flood and rain water.