Heavy rain triggers flash floods in Odisha

Torrential rains triggered flash floods in Odisha's southwest districts of Kalahandi and Nabrangpur, submerging low-lying areas, a minister said Monday.

Nearly 15,000 people in about a dozen villages have been affected with some places recording as high as 400 mm of rain Sunday, the state's Revenue and Disaster Management Department Minister Surya Narayan Patro told IANS.

Flood waters entered many homes. Road connectivity has been disrupted. Though the extent of damage has not yet been assessed, local authorities have been directed to provide relief, Patro said.

With the weatherman predicting more rain in the southern and northern belts and widespread rain in other parts of the state over the next two days, the government has asked all districts collectors to remain alert, he said.