Heavy rain batters western Odisha with more in store

Bhubaneswar: Two persons were killed in a wall collapse in Nuapada district on Sunday as heavy rainfall across western Odisha in the past 24 hours wreaked havoc. A fresh low-pressure area also formed over Bay of Bengal on Sunday, which is likely to trigger extremely heavy rain in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh and Sambalpur districts in the next 24 hours, the IMD said.

Due to the downpour, several low-lying areas were inundated, disrupting road connectivity and normal life. Waterlogging has been reported from multiple blocks, prompting the Jharsuguda administration to evacuate residents from affected areas and shift them to safer locations.

Eight places recorded extremely heavy rainfall above 200mm, with four places receiving very heavy rainfall between 100 and 200mm. Deogaon in Jharsuguda recorded the maximum of 306mm rainfall, followed by Bamra in Sambalpur with 285.4mm and Likara in Jharsuguda with 270.4mm. Other places like Kirmira, Kolabira and Kuchinda recorded rainfall in excess of 220mm.

Under Jharsuguda Municipality limits, several areas experienced severe waterlogging. Residents near the Old Bus Stand staged a road blockade for a few hours, demanding the construction of a proper drainage system, as rainwater entered their homes. After assurance from the authorities, they lifted the blockade.

"We submitted written complaints several times regarding the waterlogging but no action has been taken yet. On Saturday night, we had to sleep in an autorickshaw, leaving our flooded home," said Soni Kaur, an agitator.

Jharsuguda district collector Aboli Sunil Naravane said, "Water entered houses in low-lying areas near the backwaters of the IB river under Brajarajnagar Municipality area. People from the affected areas have been evacuated and shifted to safer locations, where they are being provided with food and medical assistance. Some houses have been partially damaged. Revenue inspectors (RIs) are on the field and have already started distributing polythene sheets," the collector added.

The special relief commissioner (SRC) has issued directives to all district collectors to keep their administrative machinery ready to face any eventuality.

"The southwest monsoon, which is active in the state, is likely to gain more steam with the formation of the low-pressure area over Gangetic West Bengal and neighbourhood and likely to bring widespread rainfall and potentially intense weather activity along its path. One or two places in the four districts may get extremely heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours," said Sanjeev Dwivedi, weather scientist at IMD's regional centre here.

Till Sunday, the state has received 35% excess rainfall from June 1. The state received cumulative rainfall of 359.8mm against the normal of 265.8mm. Two districts have received deficient rainfall, IMD sources said.