Malkangiri: As many as 20 villages of Nakamamudi panchayat under Korukonda block in Malkangiri district were cut off from the mainland following a landslide at Bayapada ghat road due to incessant rainfall over the last three days. The farmlands have been submerged and a flood-like situation has arisen as the rivers are in spate following the rainfall. Large chunks of soil along with stones and rocks came crashing on the road on Bayapada ghat following heavy rainfall, Thursday disrupting vehicular movement. The road has been covered in knee-deep muck due to the heavy rain and landslide. As a result, around 20 villages in Nakamamudi panchayat have been cut off from the mainland.
Some of the villages were identified as Bayapada, Suripada, Damodarbeda, Naringijhola, Amalibeda, Badakhiaguda, Tikarpada, Angurguda, Ghisingbeda and Jalaguda. The landslide has affected over 3,000 people residing on top of the Bayapada ghat as they are dependent on the ghat road for movement to and from the mainland. They also take the road to visit the bank, LAMPS, hospital, educational institutions, and other private and government establishments. The landslide also prevented the villagers from visiting Kudumulugumma weekly haat which had its sitting Thursday.
Notably, the road was constructed two years ago by cutting the hill. The incessant rainfall in the region worsened the situation as it has made the restoration and clearance work highly challenging for the administration.
On the other hand, the water level in several rivers of the district has increased owing to the heavy downpour, posing chances of a flood situation. With a steady rise in water levels, the submersion of Gurupriya Bridge, which connects Swabhiman Anchal, a former Maoist bastion, with the rest of the state, cannot be ruled out. The Collector has directed for evacuation of residents of the low-lying areas to safer places in the case of a flood.