Odisha Rain Fury: 10,000 Evacuated As Swollen Rivers, Landslides Trigger Fresh Flood Fear

Heavy rain triggered by a weakening depression continued to disrupt life across Odisha, with swollen rivers, landslides, waterlogging and damaged roads and railway tracks prompting authorities to evacuate around 10,000 people to 200 relief centres.

The weather system, which crossed the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coast near Kalingapatnam on Thursday, moved into Odisha and brought heavy to very heavy rain. At least 24 places recorded more than 100 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours to 8.30 am on Friday. Tentulikhunti in Nabarangpur recorded the highest at 395 mm, followed by Nandahandi at 344 mm and Boriguma in Koraput at 307.8 mm.

The rain severely affected six southern districts and also disrupted normal life in western and coastal Odisha, including Bhubaneswar. Schools and Anganwadi centres were shut in eight districts as a precaution. Odisha has also recorded its highest monsoon rainfall in two decades, according to reports citing officials.

The Jalaka and Budhabalanga rivers in Balasore and Baitarani and Kani rivers in Jajpur crossed danger levels, raising fears of another round of flooding after the state had already witnessed two flood spells this monsoon.

Malkangiri was among the worst-hit areas. 1,154 people were evacuated to eight shelters, while 139 pregnant women and 458 residential-school students were moved to safer locations. Several bridges on NH-326 were submerged by three to four feet of water, cutting the road link towards Andhra Pradesh. A bridge on the Nuatekpadar-Puruna Tekpadar road was also washed away.

In Koraput, the Kolab, Indravati and Saberi rivers were in spate. A 40-year-old school teacher, Bhimadhar Nayak, went missing after his boat capsized in Kolab reservoir, with rescue teams searching for him.

Gajapati reported rescue operations after floodwater cut off villages, while parts of Berhampur were submerged, prompting ODRAF and Fire Service personnel to use boats to rescue stranded residents, including a pregnant woman.

Landslides blocked roads at several locations. At Kalinga Ghat, nearly 200 metres of a guard wall collapsed, while boulders fell onto NH-16 at Bada Ghati in Khallikote. Uprooted trees and landslides also disrupted railway services in the Rayagada division.

The state deployed 33 ODRAF teams and more than 300 Fire Service teams for rescue, road clearance and restoration of connectivity.

The IMD said the deep depression had weakened into a depression over south interior Odisha adjoining Chhattisgarh. It was expected to move north-northwestwards and weaken further into a well-marked low-pressure area. The weather office has forecast heavy rain on September 26, but no warning is currently indicated for September 27 onward.