Incessant rains triggers floods in Orissa; two towns cut off

Bhubaneswar, July 3 (UNI) Two towns in South Orissa were cut off due to floods while tidal water entered sea side coastal Orissa villages following heavy rains caused due to a deep depression over north west Bay of Bengal.

Report reaching here today said the flood waters of Bansadhara and Nagavali started flowing over the major roads leading to Rayagada and Gunupur towns, disrupting communication from the rest of the state.

In coastal Orissa incessant rain coupled with wind speed reaching over 60 kms per hour played havoc in some of the villages under coastal Rajnagar block as tidal water entered into the villages.

The residents of Satabhaya were shifted temporarily to safer place as heap of sand entered in their houses in the wind from the nearby sand dome situated in the village, Rajnagar Tahasildar L.N.

Sethy said.

According to official sources,some roofs of thatched houses were also damaged in Satabhya village due to the heavy rain.

Tidal water has also ingressed through the weak saline embankments in Pentha, Talchua, Balungapatia, Sailenranarayanpur, Gumura, Jaudia and Ajagarpatia villages under Rajnagar block.

Meanwhile, the district administration has provided flattened rice and other relief materials to the affected families of Satabhaya.

A report from Gajapati said the Bansadahara river is rising very fast following torrential rains for the past two days caused by a deep depression. The flood waters of Bansadhara has entered into three gram panchayats under Kashinagar block affecting over 20,000 population.

The district officials have rushed to the site to supervise the relief and rescue operation in the affected villages.

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