Hundreds evacuated after flooding in Odisha

At least 1,500 people have been shifted to safer places in Odisha after flood waters swamped their homes, a minister said Tuesday.

Heavy torrential rains over past three days triggered floods in some areas of Nabrangpur and Kalahandi districts in the state.

"People were moved from low-lying areas of both the districts after flood waters entered their homes," state Revenue and Disaster Management Department Minister Surya Narayan Patro told IANS.

At least 1,300 people of 11 villages in Kalahandi district and about 200 people of four villages in Chandahandi area of Nabrangpur district have been shifted to safer places. Free kitchens have been set up to provide them cooked food.

"I have asked local authorities to provide the victims relief for at least seven days or until the flood waters recede," Patro said.

"Although rain has almost stopped in the area, water was still flowing down from the nearby hills," he added.

The Hati river in the district of Kalahandi was flowing at least three feet above a bridge. The flooding has also forced closure of several roads in the region, he said.

Heavy rains forced authorities to shut the 600 MW Mukhiguda hydropower project in Kalahandi, Patro said.