Bhubaneswar: Continuous heavy rains in southern Odisha have created a flood-like situation in Malkangiri district and blocked a major road in Gajapati district. The bad weather has caused serious problems for people in these areas.
In Malkangiri, the Jhapra Bridge in Sukma district of neighbouring Chhattisgarh is now under 3 to 4 feet of water. Because of this, the road between Malkangiri and Sukma is completely cut off. Many vehicles are stuck on both sides of the bridge.
In Gajapati district, a big tree fell on National Highway 326 near Mandimera village in Mohana block. This highway connects Asika in Odisha to Chinturu Road in Andhra Pradesh. Because of the fallen tree, vehicles are stuck on both sides of the road.
After getting the information, the Mohana Fire Services team reached the spot and cleared the tree, allowing traffic to move slowly again.
Meanwhile, The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Warning for Malkangiri, saying that extremely heavy rain, lightning, and strong winds (30–40 km/h) are likely. For Gajapati, an Orange Warning has been given, with a chance of heavy to very heavy rainfall.
The district administrations have asked people to stay indoors, avoid travel, and follow safety instructions.