Sunday, August 10, 2008

3 killed as rain lashes Orissa

The Hindu, 10th August, 2008

Bhubaneswar: With heavy rains pounding southern and western Orissa due to a low pressure over north-west Bay and adjoining central area of Orissa and Gangetic West Bengal, at least three women were killed and another went missing, sources said on Saturday.
They said that Urmila Goud (53) of Jagadalpur village of Rayagada district died as the bus in which she was travelling was swept away by floods in the Badanala river on Friday night. The bus carrying 20 passengers slipped into the river. While 18 persons were rescued, Padmini Bibhar (33) of Mallagaon village of Bisam Katak area of Rayagada could not be traced.
Two other women identified as Debaki Majhi and Renuka Majhi of Mathapalla village of Kesinga block in Kalahandi district, died when they were struck by lightning on Saturday. The Special Relief Commissioner’s office control room said water levels in the Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani and Subarnarekha were rising. The situation in western and southern Orissa became acute as small rivers such as the Hati, Tel and Jhandavati were also rising. More floods likely
The possibility of another spell of floods was looming large as the Met office predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over upper Mahanadi, the Rusikulya and the Bansadhara rivers with heavy fall at a few places over lower Mahanadi catchment areas in the next 24 hours.
“Friday’s low pressure was gradually taking the shape of a depression under which influence the entire Orissa could receive heavy rainfall,” said local IMD Director Sarat Sahu.
Predicting a flow of wind at a speed of 50 kmph, the Cyclone Warning Centre had cautioned fishermen not to venture into the sea, Mr. Sahu said.

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