Heavy rains claim two lives in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Sep 17 (UNI) At least two persons were killed, while life was paralysed in six of the 30 districts in Orissa following heavy rain accompanied by cyclonic wind during the past two days triggered by a deep depression.

Official sources here said while one died due to wall collapse in Chaila village near Bhandaripokhari under Bhadrak district, another death was reported from the Sukinda Tahasil in Jajpur district.

Due to heavy rain in the upper catchment areas major rivers, including Mahanadi, Devi, Kushabhadra, Brahamani, Budhabalanga, Vansdhara were flowing close to their warning level and rising.

Official sources said at least 15 blocks were affected in the rains where trees were uprooted, low lying areas submerged and many thatched houses damaged.

As per the reports reaching here four villages of Rajnagar Block were badly affected due to a breach in saline embankments.

Low lying areas of Dhamnagar block in Bhadrak district and some villages in Nuagaon block in Jagatsinghpur district besides the low lying areas of Bari Binjarpur, Dasrathpur and Mangalpur blocks in Jajpur district were submerged.

Around 5000 people were evacuated to safer places.

Authorities shifted 300 people of Ichhapur village of Balikuda, Nimidi and Boulanga of Kujanga block in Jagatsinghpur and 30 families of Kaithkola and Dosinga Gram Panchayat in Bhadrak district to nearest cyclone shelters.

Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force(ODRAF) personnel were deployed in Jajpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak districts and all senior officers had been alerted to keep a close vigil on the situation.

Dry food packets were distributed and instruction was given to organise free kitchen for the affected people.

In Rayagada district Rayagada-Koraput road was cut off at Chhatisgarha Nallaha, Muniguda-Chandipur road at Hanumathapur, Brahamanaipatna-Muniguda road over Jhigidi Nallaha near Hata Dahikhal.

Around two ft water was flowing over the roads and traffic had been stopped to avoid any eventuality.

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