Bhubaneswar: Continuous heavy rain triggered by Cyclone Arnab has led to a flood situation in Ganjam district.
According to reports, the Rushikulya river has crossed the danger mark at Purushottampur. While the danger level is 16.835 metres, the water level is currently flowing at 17.500 metres. Due to this, the road connecting Tankachhai to Hinjilicut is submerged under 3 feet of water. Knee-deep flood water is flowing in several villages.
Besides, Sorada is among the worst affected. The town has been receiving heavy to extremely heavy rain for the last three days. The rising Rushikulya has inundated Palakatu, Nuagaon, Tatabali and Suramani villages under Sorada block and disrupted connectivity.
In Sanakhemundi and Digapahandi, the situation has worsened due to the swelling of Ghodahada river. Flood water is flowing 5 feet above the Ghodahada bridge near Palaspur, completely cutting off Digapahandi-Aska road which is part of NH-326. Vehicles have been stranded on both sides of the road, leaving commuters in distress.
Upon being informed, Police have reached the spot and put up barricades near the bridge and people have been warned not to cross the bridge through flood water.
The district administration has meanwhile started evacuation of people from low-lying areas to safer places and advised people to stay away from rivers and avoid travelling through inundated stretches.
It is pertinent to mention that cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh–Yanam coast with maximum sustained wind speeds of 125 to 135 kmph, gusting up to 150 kmph. Although the system began to weaken into a deep depression before tracking toward Chhattisgarh, it continued to lash southern Odisha with relentless heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.
