Heavy rain claims three lives in Orissa

By Prafulla Das

BHUBANESWAR, JULY 8. Normal life has been thrown out of gear in most parts of Orissa as heavy rain continued to lash the coastal State for the seventh consecutive day today causing flash floods in many rivers damaging houses, crops and roads, and claiming three lives.

The district headquarter town of Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi continued to remain cut off from the rest of the world for the second day as heavy rain inundated the area due to flash floods in all rivers, rivulets and nullahs in the region. Road communication to Bhawanipatna was likely to be restored by tomorrow. One person has died in Kalahandi district and two other deaths have been reported from Koraput due to floods in Indravati river.

A large number of people have been shifted from low- lying areas in Kalahandi district and people in many areas have been cautioned to shift to safer places nearby. Severe damages to residential houses have been reported from marooned areas of Kalahandi. The other districts that have been affected by flash floods and heavy rainfall include Bhadrak, Jajpur, Khurda, Gajapati and Bolangir.

The State has already experienced one-third of its entire year's average rainfall since the arrival of monsoon this year, the State Revenue Minister, Mr. Biswabhushan Harichandan, told presspersons here today.

The State received 316 mm rainfall in June as against the month's normal rainfall of 219 mm. In the first week of July, the State has already received a rainfall of 115.6 mm as against the month's State average of 372.6 mm.

Giving details of the water level in major rivers, Mr. Harichandan said water level was rising in Mahanadi, Kathajori, Devi and Kushabhadra rivers threatening to cross the danger marks at different gauge stations.

Mahanadi and others rivers linked to it were expected to cross the danger level by tomorrow in view of water to be released from Hirakud reservoir and heavy downpour in Chhatishgarh and the western Orissa districts, he said.

Water level in Vansadhara, that had crossed the danger mark at Kasinagar in Gajapati district, had started receding after the Andhra Pradesh government opened all gates of Gota barrage on Orissa government's request, Mr. Harichandan informed.

Informing that emergent relief was being provided to the people in many areas in Kalahandi, Koraput, Gajapati and Bhadrak districts, Mr. Harichandan said the Collectors of all the districts had been alerted to keep the government machinery ready to meet any eventuality.

Heavy floods in Baitarani has caused as many as eight breaches along the embankments in Bhadrak district inundating vast areas. The breaches are being repaired by using sand bags and other materials. Although no loss of life has been reported from the district, the flood has caused severe damage to the crops.

The Minister, however, could not give details about the total population affected by floods and waterlogging and damage to crops and dwelling units. Reports are pouring in from different districts and an exact picture will emerge in a day or two, he said.

As Bhubaneswar continued to experience torrential rains, the low- lying areas of the city had been inundated and the authorities were engaged in pumping out rainwater in many localities.

The Revenue Minister, however, claimed that the situation was under control and there was no cause of panic. All measures have been taken by the respective district administrations to meet any emergency, he added.

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