Part of Aska road in Ganjam’s Hinjili block has been washed away by flood water . Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Oct. 25: Incessant rain and consequent floods in Ganjam district have claimed three lives.

The three victims — identified as Kuntala Sahu, 58, of Nua Gurunthi village at Srikrushnasaranapur panchayat in Khallikote block, Jasoda Badatya, 75, of Mantridi village and Mengi Sahu, 35, of Satakutuni village both at Rangeilunda block — died in incidents of house collapse following the rain.

Nearly 18 lakh people in several parts of the district have been affected in the twin calamities as the areas remain isolated. About one lakh people from quite a few villages have been shifted to safer places, official sources said.

The affected blocks are Ganjam, Chatrapur, Sorada, Hinjili, Seragada, Chikiti, Patrapur, Purushottampur, Buguda, Belaguntha and Sanakhemundi.

All major rivers, including the Rushikulya, Badanadi, Baghua, Bahuda, Loharakhandi and the Ghodahada, are in spate.

“Half of the district’s population are affected due to the floods. We have shifted 95,800 people from many affected villages to safer places till today afternoon,” said Ganjam collector Kishen Kumar.

The Rushikulya floodwater entered Aska town and the water was flowing at 3ft at Nalabanta on National Highway (NH) 56 near Aska.

Ganjam was cut off from Bhubaneswar and Andhra Pradesh as the floodwater submerged NH-5. The road between Aska and Nayagarh remains cut off due to floods. Besides, road communication between Digapahandi and Taptapani, Kodala and Aska, Ganjam and Kandhamal, Purushottampur and Taratarini were also snapped.

Bhanjanagar has experienced 137mm rainfall in the past 24 hours, Janibili 218mm, Berhampur 43mm, Kukudakhandi 118mm, Hinjili 184mm, Baghalati dam 193mm and Ghodahada dam 224mm rainfall.

The water level is on the rise in all the reservoirs at Bhanjanagar, Sorada, Daha, Ghodahada, Dhanei, Pilasalunki, Baghua Stage I and II, Badanala and Harabhangi, sources of the Southern Irrigation Circle office.

Five gram panchayats in Chatrapur and Ganjam block remain cut off from the rest of the world.

Villagers residing at Kespur, Pathara, Sabulia, Langaleswar and Srikrushnasaranpur are scared of the floods as the water level of the Chilika lake is increasing.

Kumar said he had instructed the officials to provide relief to the affected people, who had taken shelter in various schools and other government buildings.