Swelling rivers disrupt road communication in south Odisha

The road communication in different parts of Gajapati and Ganjam districts was disrupted on Monday following the damage caused to roads and overflowing of flood waters of rivers Rushikulya and Bansadhara in the aftermath of strike by cyclonic storm Hudhud.

The communication between Sorada and Berhampur was disrupted as the Rushikulya river overflowed at Bhaliagochha and near Merikote. The water level of Rushikulya crossed its danger level at Aska at 4 pm. While its danger level at Aska is 34.75 meter, the river was flowing at 35.47 meter, sources said. Rushikulya and its tributary Bada Nandi were in upward trend, sources said.

Water level of Loharakhandi river at Bhanjanagar in Ganjam district was also surging.

On the other hand, the water level of Bansadhara river has started to recede, said the government sources. The water level of Bansadhara at Kasinagar was flowing at its danger level of 54.60 meter at 4 pm. The river was flowing at about one meter above its danger level at noon, sources said.

The river is flowing at 83.38 meter at Gunupur as against its danger level of 84.00 meter, sources said. Since the water level of the river was on downward trend, there is no fear of flood in Bansadhara, sources said. Moreover, we have already evacuated the people from the nearby areas, said Gajapati collector, Mansa Nimbhal.

The rivers in southern Odisha were in spate following the incessant rains in the catchment areas of the rivers on Sunday night. Gajapati received the highest average rain of 209 mm in the last 24 hours ended at 8.30 am. The heavy rain was experienced in southern Odisha districts under the influence of the severe cyclonic storm Hudhud that crossed land near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday.

Similarly, the water level of Poteru in Malkanagiri and Hati river in Kalahandi district was swelling, sources said.