JEYPORE/KORAPUT: Heavy rain lashed Koraput district for the fourth consecutive day on Monday. Normal life was hit with people preferring to remain indoor.Markets in the district headquarters town remained closed and there was thin attendance in schools and colleges.
While all major rivers are in spate, water level in Indravati, Saptadhara, Kolab, Sileru, Saverali and Paralit is nearing the red mark. A flood like situation prevails in Borrigumma, Kotpad, Kundra and Jeypore blocks. Rain water has been flowing on roads in Dasmantpur, Laxmipur, Lamataput, Nandapur, Boipariguda, Kotapad and Borrigumma areas.
According to preliminary reports, over 600 thatched houses in Jeypore and Koraput sub-divisions have been damaged completely and landslides have been reported in Semiliguda, Dasmantpur and Potangi. Road communication from Koraput to neighbouring States like Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh has been cut off.
Hundreds of acres of paddy crops have been submerged in rain water. Rain water has inundated paddy fields in Jeypore, Kotpad, Borrigumma, Kundra and Boipariguda blocks where transplantation of kharif paddy transplantation was recently done. Vegetable farmers were the worst hit as they could not reach Jeypore and Koraput towns to sell their produce.
The district administration has stocked relief materials in Kotpad block to tackle flood-like situation. Semiliguda block has recorded the highest rainfall of 81 mm while the district average was 53.31 mm on Monday.
Collector Anupam Saha has deployed district level officials in 14 blocks to monitor the situation. He visited Dhamanhandi, Sadaranaga, Chandili, Suruli villages under Kotpad block on Monday and discussed flood situation with officials concerned. All Government employees have been directed to remain present in their respective areas.Saha informed that the situation is normal now. Due to rain, power supply was snapped in Jeypore, Kotpad, Koraput, Sunabeda, Semiliguda and Damanjodi on the day.