2 killed, thousands affected as heavy rain hits Orissa

Times of India, Spet 17, 2008

BHUBANESWAR: At least two people were killed and thousands affected in rain-related incidents as heavy downpour pounded coastal Orissa on Wednesday, raising fears of floods in major rivers including Mahanadi.

With southwest monsoon being active over the state, extremely heavy rainfall was recorded in Baitarani and lower Brahmani catchments.

Besides, the catchment areas of Mahanadi, Baitarani, Rusikulya, Subarnarekha and other major rivers also received heavy to very heavy rainfall, officials said adding the heavy downpour due to deep depression which lay centered near Keonjhar also contributed towards rise in water level.

While one Jaladhar Jena of Chhaila village under Bhandaripokhari police station area in Bhadrak district died last night due to house collapse, another person was killed in Jajpur district also in wall collapse, the Special Relief Commissioner's office here said.

Adding to the worries of the people, many seaside villages in Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore and Bhadrak districts were swept away by tidal wave which caused breaches in several saline embankments and left a large number of villagers marooned, official sources said.

"Twelve blocks in four districts like Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Jagatsinghpur were submerged. There has been report of submergence in Keonjhar district also," said Special Relief Commissioner N K Sunadaray.

Rivers like Hati, Tel and Ret were in spate in Kalahandi and neighbouring districts, while Bansadhara was almost touching the danger mark of 84 metre at Gunupur in Rayagada district, they said.