Heavy rain displaces thousands in Odisha town

Heavy rain in an Odisha town has forced thousands of people to take shelter in relief camps after rain water flooded streets and homes Sunday, an official said.

"The district headquarters town of Sambalpur, about 320 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, and its nearby areas received 380 mm rain, probably the highest any place recorded in the state this rainy season," district emergency officer N.R. Das told IANS.

"The rainwater flooded roads and low-lying areas of the town after heavy downpour.

"At least 25,000 people have been affected by the rains and 4,000 of them have been given shelter at the relief camps," he said

"The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed to carry out relief and rescue operations. Volunteers from 12 non-government organisations are also helping the victims," Das added.

"Under the influence of cyclonic circulation over Northwest Bay of Bengal, a low pressure area has formed over the bay and neighbouring areas," said an official of the Bhubaneswar meteorological centre.

"As a result, rain would occur at most places in the state during next two days. Some places in north and south Odisha could witness heavy to extremely heavy rainfall during the period," he added.

Normal life was also disrupted in many other places including state capital Bhubaneswar and its adjoining Cuttack city.