Rain paralyses South, West Odisha; 1 killed

The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), June 25, 2013

One person died in Nabarangpur after the low pressure over coastal and north western Bay of Bengal triggered heavy rain over Southern and Western Odisha sending Hati river into spate for the second time in a month. Junagarh and Kalampur blocks of Kalahandi district bore the brunt of the torrential downpour as several villages were marooned and people had to be evacuated.

The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force has been called for assistance. Reports coming in from the districts to the Special Relief Commissioner’s Office said Kalahandi district received torrential downpour in the last 24 hours.

The SRC office said ODRAF teams from Balangir have been deployed in Kalahandi while fire-fighters have been mobilised to conduct relief and rescue operations. The rain, it alerted, may continue for another two days.

In Nabarangpur’s Chandahandi block, one death was reported following heavy rain and flood. The block received 211 mm rain affecting over 3700 villagers.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister SN Patro said collectors have been asked to provide relief to the affected villagers while reporting the situation to the Government at regular interval.

The India Meteorological Department said the southwest monsoon has become active over the State under influence of the low pressure lying close to coastal Odisha and north-west Bay of Bengal. As a result, rainfall occurred at most places with heavy to very heavy falls recorded at one or two places.

“Since the system was slow in its movement, it is gaining strength. We also expect rain in coastal Odisha in next 24 hours,” said IMD, Odisha Director Sarat Chandra Sahu.

The weather office said heavy to very heavy rain may occur over south and coastal Odisha with extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places over south interior pockets. Similarly, heavy rainfall may occur at one or two places over north interior districts during next 48 hours.

Since strong and gusty surface wind speed reaching 45 km to 55 km per hour may prevail along and off Odisha coast, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.