Heavy rain batters Odisha amid depression, more showers likely
BHUBANESWAR/ KOLKATA: Villages, agriculture fields, roads, bridges and lowlying areas were flooded with rivers in spate in several districts of Odisha on Tuesday after torrential rain pummelled the state, especially the southern region.
Coastal parts of Bengal, too, received moderate rainfall during the day.
A well-marked low-pressure area (Lopar) over the northwest Bay of Bengal concentrated into a depression and lay over western Odisha and about 30 km southeast of Sambalpur at 5.30 pm, the Meteorological Centre said.
The system is set to weaken into a well-marked Lopar again over Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, it said, adding that the monsoon trough was passing through western and coastal Odisha.
At least eight weather stations recorded very heavy showers of 116-204 mm, while 44 places were battered by downpour of 65-115 mm over a 24-period till 8.30 am, the weather office said.
Kosagumuda in Nabarangpur recorded 161 mm of rain, followed by 160.2 mm in Bhapur in Nayagarh.
Heavy rain lashed Gajapati, Rayagada, Cuttack, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Koraput districts. Bhubaneswar and Cuttack logged 76 mm and 31 mm of rain respectively.
Many areas in Malkangiri district were severely affected as the water level in several rivers rose following incessant rain, leading to important highways and bridges being submerged and villages getting marooned. The situation was exacerbated as the Godavari river was also in spate.
Residents of several villages in Gajapati were stranded as waters from the swollen Harabhangi river swept the area. A bridge was washed away in Sinapali area of Nuapada.
Six people were seriously wounded after a house collapsed following heavy rain in Nabarangpur. They are undergoing treatment in a hospital.
Ganjam district was also pounded by downpour, with district headquarters Chhatrapur receiving 142 mm of precipitation. A 17-year old boy was swept away in the swollen Rushikulya river at Handighara under Purusottampur area.
The teenager was rescued from Khajipalli by using a life jacket and a rope. He has been admitted in a hospital, a fire brigade official said.
Intense spell of 97 mm rain occurred in Angul between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm, followed by 77.8 mm in Sambalpur, 56.4 mm in Bhawanipatna town in Kalahandi and 47.2 mm in Bolangir.