Rainfall: Rain disrupts road link with 3 states, causes traffic chaos in Malkangiri district | Bhubaneswar News
Koraput: Inter-state and intra-district traffic were severely disrupted on Saturday after a 2-km stretch of NH-326 near Motu in Malkangiri district was submerged following incessant rainfall over the past two days.
Communication between Malkangiri district and the bordering states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Chhattisgarh was hit. Malkangiri town was cut-off from Kalimela and Motu due to floodwaters flowing over Kankurkonda bridge on NH-326.Several low-lying bridges at Pangam, Poteru and MV-96 were submerged.
Inter-state bus services have been completely paralysed because of submergence of a portion of NH-326 owing to heavy rainfall in bordering states in the past 24 hours. “Floodwaters are flowing at least 4ft over Kankurkonda bridge,” said Ram Patnaik, a resident of Malkangiri.
Mudulipada and Andrahal panchayats under Khairaput block, home to Bondas, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), also remained cut-off from the block headquarters due to landslides on Saturday. In Malkangiri town, residents blocked NH-326 for a few hours as rainwater entered homes in low-lying areas.
Officials said while the situation remains grim, it is expected to improve as there has been no rainfall since 2 pm.
“The situation is under control and no casualties have been reported. Field officials are on high alert to meet any emergency situation. If required, people in low-lying areas in Kalimela block might be evacuated,” said Debabar Pradhan, additional district magistrate, Malkangiri.
According to the district emergency office, Malkangiri received an average of 190.02 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours till 8 am on Saturday. The district has received a total of 1,330.16 mm of rain during the same period, with Khairput, Chitrakonda, Korkunda and Kalimela blocks recording more than 200 mm.
Khairput block recorded the highest rainfall of 221.2 mm.
“Our officials are closely monitoring the situation. Efforts are ongoing to reach the villagers in Mudulipada and Andrahal panchayats affected by landslides,” the ADM said.
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