Incessant rains disrupt normal life in Kalahandi

Incessant rains disrupt normal life
The Pioneer, July 21, 2009
Bikash Khemka | Bhawanipatna

Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on National Highway 201 on Monday following incessant rains in Kalahandi district for the last couple of days.

Water is flowing three feet over the bridge on Junagarh Hati River where commuters of Koksara, Kalampur, Dharmagarh, Golamunda blocks have been marooned. Report said two gates of Indravati reservoir were opened till Sunday afternoon including Mangalpur barrage but one gate was closed in the midnight.

In the town one person died at dhoba pada on Saturday when his house collapsed due to heavy rain. Another person reportedly died at Borda on Saturday following lightning. No other incidents have yet been received from other blocks so far. Few waterlogged schools declared a holiday on Monday at Bhawanipatna.

At Kesinga block heavy water flow on Tel River has disrupted lives of six villages including Patharla, Bahadurpadar, Malpada, Rajapada, Sirjapali and Belkhandi. Sources said around 10,000 acres of agricultural land from Tehsil to Belkhandi have been destroyed in this block. ADM Chudamani Sethi informed the Pioneer that it is yet to receive the total damage in the flood affected areas. Meanwhile, the relief operation is going on at Kesinga and some parts of Junagarh block.

Floods bring Kalahandi to a halt
The Statesman, July 21, 2009

BHAWANIPATNA, 20 JULY: The flood situation in Kalahandi district has turned grim with the Hati river reportedly flowing four feet high over the Hati bridge near Junagarh, badly affecting vehicular movement on the crucial NH-201.
Torrential rain during the last 24 hours has virtually paralyzed normal life in the district and with the water level of the Tel river and its tributaries~ Hati and Udanti - rising menacingly, it is feared that the situation will worsen further.
Official sources, however, claimed that the Tel river is still below high flood level at Kesinga and Mankadsola.
While road links to Rajapada, Belkhandi, Sirjapali, Bahadurpadar and Malpada areas under Kesinga block have been disrupted because of high water flowing over roads, the low lying areas of Kesinga town in ward no 1 have become water logged, sources said.
As flood water of Kumuda nullah is flowing over the road and Singari Ghat Road has been damaged, the road link to tribal-dominated Thuamul Rampur has been disrupted. Telecom service has also been affected in the area.
Many low lying areas of Bhawanipatna town also became water logged due to a drainage problem.
During the last 24 hours, 296mm rainfall was recorded at Kesinga followed by 130mm at Bhawanipatna, 107mm at M.Rampur, 90mm at Kalampur, 83mm at Lanjigarh, 77mm at Jaipatna, 62mm at Junagarh and 51mm rain fall at Dharamgarh.
Sources said that the week-long heavy rain has affected the kharif crops. It is apprehended that the main alternative cash crop of the district, cotton, may now be adversely affected due to water logging.SNS

Hati, Tel swelling
Expressbuzz, July 21, 2009

BHAWANIPATNA: Incessant rains since last 24 hours have paralysed normal life in Kalahandi with water level of river Tel and its tributaries Hati and Udanti rising menancingly.

Roads in many areas have been submerged. Since last afternoon, traffic over NH-201 has been disrupted as flood water of river Hati is flowing four feet over the bridge near Junagarh. Paddy fields and low lying areas of Kalampur and Junagarh blocks located on the banks of river Hati have been submerged.

Though the water level in Tel is rising, Kesinga and Mankadsola are safe as the water has not reached the high flood level. At Kesinga, against the high flood level of 176.8 MRL, the water is now at 173.2 MRL. Low lying areas of ward no one in Kesinga town have been water-logged. Road links to Rajapada, Belkhandi, Sirjapali, Bahadurpadar, Malpada areas under Kesinga block have been cut-off. Communication to Thuamul-Rampur has also been disrupted with flood waters of Kumuda nullah submerging roads. Besides the Singari Ghat road has been damaged in the rains. Telecommunication services have been disrupted in many areas. Sans proper drainage system, low-lying areas of Bhawanipatna have been water-logged.

During last 24 hours, 296 mm rainfall has been recorded at Kesinga followed by 130 mm at Bhawanipatna, 107mm at M.Rampur, 90 mm at Kalampur, 83 mm at Lanjigarh, 77 mm at Jaipatna, 62 mm at Junagarh and 51 mm at Dharamgarh.