5 Dariya News

Heavy rains lash Odisha, throw life out of gear

5 Dariya News

Bhubaneswar 21-Jul-2018

Heavy rainfall triggered by a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal has thrown normal life out of gear in several parts of Odisha.This prompted  Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to call an emergency meeting on Saturday to review the situation. He directed the officials to remain alert to face the  flood-like situation in the state."Rainfall in some places is unprecedented. For instance, Puri has recorded 322 mm rainfall during the last 24 hours. In  Cuttack, 211 mm rainfall has been recorded in the same period. Around 16 blocks of Odisha have experienced above 200 mm rainfall during the last 24  hours," Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi said.Water level of different rivers is being closely monitored while Odisha Disaster  Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) is on standby to meet any flood-like situation. Besides, control rooms have been set up in various districts, he said.The  SRC said that even though several rivers are swelling, most of the rivers are flowing below the danger mark. But it has been predicted that heavy  rainfall will continue for the next 48 hours.

The state government has also asked District Collectors not to leave their respective headquarters for at least 48 hours in view of the flood-like  situation, Sethi said.Meanwhile, several parts of Odisha including the twin city of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar and pilgrim town Puri were inundated on  Saturday.Several areas in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar have been waterlogged following heavy rains since Friday night."There have been heavy rains in  Cuttack and Bhubaneswar and we have placed the water pumps into service. The municipal administration is active and wherever necessary, the  ODRAF and Fire Department teams are being sent," said Sethi.Looking at the heavy rainfall, all the schools and educational institutions have been  closed in the twin cities.Meanwhile, the East Coast Railway has cancelled three trains, two short-terminated and 20 trains regulated due to water  logging at Khurda Road Railway station, Bhubaneswar Railway station and Puri yard on Saturday.