KORAPUT: As heavy downpour continued unabated in the district for the third consecutive day on Tuesday, the flood situation worsened throwing normal life out of gear.
Thousands of acres of agricultural land have been inundated and hundreds of thatched houses damaged in several blocks under Jeypore sub-division.
The district received around 120 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours. Flash floods in Kolab, Indravati, Jonra, Johora, Surli, Bansuli and Saptadhara rivers have submerged almost all the low lying areas and hundreds of villages in Jeypore, Borrigumma, Kotpad, Boipariguda and Kundura blocks have been cut off from the mainland.
With knee-deep flood water flowing on roads, movement of vehicular traffic has come to a grinding halt.
Passenger vehicles to Kalahandi, Malkangiri and Rayagada districts and neighbouring Chhattisgarh remained off the road. Movement of trains between Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh was also affected due to a landslide near Maliguda railway tunnel here.
In rural pockets of the district, relief and rescue operations could not be taken up as several roads and culverts have been washed away.
At least 100 villages under Sudaranaga, Damanahandi, Bansuli, Chandili and Guali panchayats of Kotpad block have been water-logged following floods in Johora, Bansuli and Indravati rivers.
Senior revenue officials are camping in Kotpad to monitor the situation and people have been asked to move to safer places as the floods may worsen if the rain continues.
In Jeypore town, there was thin attendance in most of the Government offices and educational institutions. Business establishments downed their shutters due to lack of demand.
Sources in the district administration said all the revenue and disaster management officials have been asked to review the situation and provide immediate relief.
