

BARIPADA: Communication between Solarpada and Karanjia in Mayurbhanj district was disrupted from Wednesday morning after an approach road over the right-side main canal of Deo Irrigation Project collapsed due to heavy rain.
Official sources said nearly 20 metre of the approach road caved in due to blocked water routes caused by three days of incessant rain. On being informed by local residents, officials of the irrigation project rushed to the site to assess the situation.
After a brief discussion, the officials decided to fill the collapsed section using sand bags. Following the incident, local farmers demanded compensation, claiming that flooding and silt from the collapse buried their paddy crops.
Executive engineer of the project Suraj Kumar Patra said the Agriculture department has directed to conduct crop damage assessment in the affected areas. “Compensation will be provided to farmers once the assessment is complete,” he added.