One killed, six missing as rains trigger flash flood in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Aug 11 (UNI) One person was killed and six went missing s flood, triggered by incessant rain during the last couple of days, affected both north and south Orissa districts, revenue minister Manmohan Samal said here today.

Mr Samal said one died and another went missing when a private bus en route to Gunupur from Narayan Patna was swept away by the strong current of the flash flood in Chhatisgarh Nullaha on the Rayagada-Koraput road on Friday last.

He said local people, however, managed to rescue as many as 18 passengers from the bus.

In another incident, the Minister said five persons were swept away when a jeep carrying them was caught in a flash flood while trying to cross a submerged bridge near Jamaipalli about 60 km from Bolangir last evening.

As many as 21 labourers from Baragarh were on their way to Sanuden in the jeep when the mishap occurred. Sixteen persons were rescued by the local people.

The government, Mr Samal said, has decided to ban plying of vehicles on the road submerged under water. Signboards indicating the ban order would be displayed on road sides to aware the people, he said.

The license of the drivers who violated the order would be cancelled and strong action would be taken against the erring drivers, he said.

The Minister appealed to the people not to panick as water level in all rivers, including Vansdhara, Brahamani, Baitarani, Mahanadi and Subarnarekha, was receding and the rivers were flowing below the danger level.

Mr Samal said officials were asked to submit a report on the damages caused due to the flood in seven days. Necessary steps would be taken after the report was received, he said adding that the repair and reconstruction of Rayagada-Koraput, Rayagada -Kerada and the Bhawanipatna- Muniguda road had already started.

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