Cyclone Titli weakens into deep depression; Odisha rivers in spate
A day after Cyclone Titli battered Odisha and left behind a trail of destruction, the state is gearing up to restore power supply and road links amid concerns over a possible flood situation. The cyclone has "weakened into a deep depression," triggering incessant rainfall, Special Relief Commissioner BP Sethi said. Major rivers are in spate and stretches of low-lying areas inundated by rainwater.
Cyclonic storm killed 8 people in AP, 1 in Odisha
A severe cyclonic storm packing winds of up to 150kmph and widespread rains had hit eastern India yesterday, killing eight people in Andhra Pradesh and one in Odisha. In Odisha, around 3L people were evacuated, a day before the cyclone made a landfall.
Rivers in Odisha started swelling due to incessant rain
The situation is grim in Odisha's Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, and Balasore districts as several rivers have started swelling due to the incessant rain. "We've been moving people to safe places at Chikiti, Dharakote, Patrapur and Sanakhemundi blocks of Ganjam district as river Rushikulya is in spate," Sethi said. Rushikulya's water level has crossed 16.83m mark and touched 18.60m at Purushottampur in Ganjam.
Vansadhara river crosses danger-level, over 1,000 shifted to relief camp
"Over 1,000 people were also shifted to relief camps in Gunupur area due to rise in water level in river Vansadhara," Sethi said. Vansadhara river's water level has touched 84.35m and 56.30m at Gunupur and Kashinagar respectively, crossing the danger mark of 84m and 54.6m.
Low-lying areas in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Puri remained waterlogged
The low-lying areas in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and Puri, too, remained waterlogged due to rain. "A large number of pumps have been engaged by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and Cuttack Municipal Corporation to clear waterlogging," a civic body official said. The road connectivity on Lathipada-Shergad road in Ganjam has been disrupted, while a bridge on Badagada Jarau River washed away following heavy rainfall, official sources said.
Very heavy rainfall will continue to lash Odisha till Saturday
Reportedly, the swelling Mahendratanaya river has submerged vast stretches of Gajapati district, cutting off road communication between Andhra Pradesh and Paralakhemundi in Odisha. Director of Meteorological Center at Bhubaneswar, HR Biswas, said heavy to very heavy rainfall will continue to lash parts of Odisha till Saturday. Fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea in view of adverse weather conditions, he added.
