Heavy rains hit normal life in Orissa

IBNlive, Aug 5, 2010
Bhubaneswar, Aug 5 (PTI) Normal life was thrown out of gear in Orissa today as heavy rains lashed many parts of the state, triggering flash floods and snapping road communications, officials said. Vast areas including paddy fields were submerged in flood waters in Kalahandi, Gajapati and Malkangiri districts, they said. In Kalahandi district, Hati river was flowing about three feet above a bridge at Junagarh on a National Highway, cutting off road links with Jeypore and several other important places. Low-lying areas in several villages including Matikhal, Biripur, Bankapala and Balichara were inundated in flood waters in the district, they said. Four marooned persons were rescued from a village in Koksara area, Deputy Collector Jagannath Mohanty said. In Gajapati district, the swollen Bansadhara river had earlier crossed the danger level of 54.60 ft at Kashi Nagar, but it began receding from afternoon, they said. In Malkangiri district, with overflowing of rivers like Saberi, Sileri and Poteru, several villages were inundated. Seven fishermen were swept away by strong water currents in Saberi river in Mathili area, However, they managed to swim to safety, officials said. Rains, triggered by a low pressure, also hit normal life in places like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Puri, Jeypore and Bhadrak. The meteorological department forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places in the state tomorrow. Fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea.