Incessant rains trigger flash flood in Koraput

Jeypore, Aug 09 (UNI) Incessant rains during the last five days in Orissa's tribal belt has triggered flash floods in all the major rivers of Koraput district.

Official sources said monsoon was active in the region with 8 cms rainfall recorded during the last 24 hours. As a result many areas connecting the district headquarters have been cut off as flood waters from various rivers started flowing on national highways and state highways.

The lone road connecting to coastal districts from Koraput has been cut off near Rayagada as water flooded over Aankash and Bada Nala rivers.

Sources said two buses have been reportedly swept away in the surging waters of the swollen river in between Koraput-Rayagada road.

All the major rivers such as Indravati, Ultajhara, Suruli, Kolab , Nagabali, Sevari, Siluru, Sapatahdara and Patali are in a spate with water level rising up to the danger mark.

The district administration of Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabrangpur have alerted the officials of a possible flash flood in many areas .

The situation, sources said, is likely to worsen as rains continued to lash the area.

Majority of the villages located in the remote areas have been cut off from the main areas. A preliminary report received here today said over 2000 thatched houses and 320 village roads were damaged while crops over 5,000 hectors in both Jeypore and Koraput subdivision have been submerged.

Heavy downpour had affected normal life at many places and the import of essential commodities and food materials from the neigbouring districts has virtually stopped leading to scarcity of food.

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