Bhubaneswar, July 18: Heavy rainfall stopped today in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts and the flood situation improved with the river waters starting to recede.

A flash flood in the area has adversely affected 57,000 people and rendered many of them homeless.

Apart from the Nagavali, Kalyani, Hati and Tel rivers (which were in spate) receding, Vanshadhara river, which was flowing close to the danger level at Kashinagar in Gajapati district, also started to recede much to the relief of the administration.

The flood has affected 202 villages in nine blocks of the two neighbouring districts. Residents of three villages - Jilinda, Budaguda and Majhiguda in Rayagada district - were marooned, while seven persons - five in Rayagada and two in Kalahandi - were injured in a wall collapse.

Rail and road communication between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh were cut off at a few places with two railway overbridges and portions of railway tracks being swept away. Restoration is now on of the damaged railway tracks, roads and bridges on a war footing, said a senior official in the special relief commissioner's office, which is closely monitoring the flood situation and coordinating restoration activities.

Special relief commissioner Bishnupada Sethi said: "Our focus is on the relief and restoration activities. Free kitchens have been opened in the affected areas to serve cooked food to people."

"The flood has damaged many houses. The damage to both houses and crops will be assessed after the water recedes. We will provide compensation to the affected people," said Sethi.

According to preliminary estimates, 28,000 people from 70 villages in Rayagada and Kalyansinghpur blocks of Rayagada district have been affected by the flash flood. In Kalahandi district, 28,517 people in 122 villages under seven blocks have been affected.

An official claimed that all affected people from Nalabeta village in Rayagada district have been brought to safety. Besides, 12 persons were rescued from rooftops in Kalyansinghpur tehsil and two persons from a tree in Chandili of the same district. The teams rescued 17 persons from Taraikili village in Bhawanipatna block of Kalahandi district.

Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, National Disaster Response Force, Central Reserve Police Force and state fire service personnel have been engaged in the search and rescue operations.