The flood situation in Odisha continued to remain grim on Sunday, mainly in worst-hit Ganjam district, as the death toll rose to 19.
“All the deaths were due to wall collapse and drowning,” Special Relief Commissioner P.K. Mohapatra said.
The low pressured induced rains led to fresh floods in Budhabalang river in Mayurbhanj district with water gushing into district headquarters town of Baripada and 50 villages, official source said.
In Khurda district, breaches occurred near Patapur, Manikapur, Achutarajpur and Srinibaspur of Banapur area after the Salia Dam overflowed, the sources said.
The very heavy rainfall damaged 96 distribution transformers of the Central Electricity Supply in the district.
A population of 16.50 lakh people were affected in 10 districts, as over 60 villages remained marooned in worst-hit Ganjam, the sources said.
The state government was hopeful that the situation would improve soon as the severity of the week—long rains had started declining in most areas.
“Though most parts of coastal Odisha are experiencing rain, the intensity has reduced and the situation will gradually improve,” Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patro said.
In a sign of relief to the people of Ganjam, major rivers like Rusikulya, Godahada and Vansadhara were now flowing below the danger mark.
The rain had affected relief and rescue operations in several areas, particularly Ganjam, Gajapati and Nayagarh districts, the sources said.
Nayagarh district recorded 103 mm rainfall since Saturday which was followed by 83 mm in Rangeilunda, 62 mm at Belaguntha and 59 mm in Jagannathprasad in Ganjam district, the sources said.
Over 2.29 lakh people have been evacuated so far and provided cooked food or dry rations.
The emergency food assistance was being provided for three days to the rain-affected people, they said.
Train services were affected due to submergence of tracks in Andhra Pradesh beyond Visakhapatanam leading to cancellation of about 13 trains.
Among trains cancelled were the Bhubaneswar-Tirupati Express, Bhubaneswar-CST Mumbai Konark Express, Bhubaneswar-Yashwantpur Express, railway sources said.
Over 18 trains passing through Bhadrak-Visakhapatnam section were diverted because of flooded tracks, but train services in rest of Odisha was normal.
