Tribals marooned as bridge washed away in Rayagada
Kalyansinghpur: Thousands of tribals from five panchayats under Kalyansinghpur block in Rayagada district have been marooned after a temporary bridge across river Kalyani was washed away by floods due to heavy rain Sunday. With no other source of communication, the region has been cut off from the rest of the world.
The locals had set up the makeshift bridge after the main bridge was washed away by incessant rain last year. The tribals in the five panchayats had to go through untold sufferings in the absence of a permanent bridge.
Now, with the temporary bridge also being washed away, the tribals seem to be in deep waters.
The worst sufferers are patients, women and schoolchildren. An expectant mother, Puspalata Kaushalya, and her family members are worried as they have no means to take her to a hospital in case of emergency.
Moreover, women farmers on their way to sell farm produce had to cross the river with the help of a bamboo raft, putting their lives at risk.
Similarly, roads in many parts of the district have been washed away following heavy rain, disrupting vehicular movement.
Communication between Dakulguda and Thuamudi panchayats has been affected as roads got washed away with four feet high water flowing over Kanijodi bridge in Bisamkatak block.
Similarly, Baliguda approach road was also washed away, disrupting communication between Kalyansinghpur, Baliguda, Kashipur and Muniguda areas of the district.
Floodwater enters houses
Berhampur: Heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours triggered flash floods in parts of Ganjam district Sunday.
Water from river Dhanei entered houses in Bhastapada village, forcing nearly 25 families to take shelter in a nearby school building.
Similar was the condition in Aska and Kabisuryanagar after a bridge near Budhaamba submerged. As a result, communication between Budhaamba and Berhampur has been completely disrupted.
Trees uprooted
Nuapada: Gusty winds uprooted many trees at Ghurajibhata village and its nearby places in Nuapada district Sunday afternoon. Movement of vehicles was disrupted for several hours as broken branches of roadside trees fell on roads. Utility poles were also uprooted, hitting power supply to various places.
Floodwaters on NH-6
Lanjigarh: Heavy rains lashed various parts of Lanjigarh block in Kalahandi district Sunday and threw normal life out of gear. Many areas remained cut off as floodwaters from Bansadhara entered Niali and other villages. Floodwaters are flowing at Shantapur on NH-6, disrupting communication. Besides, communication to 15 villages including Kadamguda, Jamguda, Khiksabhata, Balapadar and Dhanbahali was disrupted. Bansadhara, Ret, Sandul and other rivers reportedly received huge inflow of rainwater while people in riparian pockets were panicked. Floodwaters have caused extensive damage to crops in some areas. Over 10 mud houses collapsed due to rain.
PNN