Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, July 18 2017: Flash floods, triggered by incessant rains, in rivers of Nagavali and Kalyani in Rayagada district and Hati and Tel rivers in Kalahandi has claimed two lives while eight others were injured as the state government stepped up relief and rescue operations in the affected areas.

Some 40,000 people in 80 villages have been affected, officials said. The reports on the death of two persons came from Kalahandi district, according to special relief commissioner (SRC) BP Sethi.

About 4,000 people were evacuated and lodged in 15 temporary shelters, where cooked food was being provided to them at free kitchen centres.

Five bridges were washed away and four major roads were damaged in the floods.

Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik, who reviewed the flood situation at the state secretariat, said, “About 4,000 people were evacuated and lodged in 15 temporary shelters, where cooked food was being provided to them at free kitchen centres. The situation in Rayagada and Kalahandi district is improving and is under control. Free kitchens have been opened in affected areas. Air dropping of relief materials has been undertaken in Rayagada”.

Five persons were injured in wall collapse incidents in Rayagada district and all of them were admitted to government hospitals, sources in the SRC office said.

On the flood situation in Rayagada district, Sethi said more than 28,000 people in 50 villages under Rayagada Block and 20 villages under Kalyansinghpur Block have been affected.

Extensive damage has occurred to four Public Works Department (PWD) and other roads, he said.

Waters of Hati and Tel river breached the embankments flooding Thuamulrampur, Kalampur, Koksara and Jaipatna Blocks in Kalahandi district. Around 11,000 people in 10 villages have been affected by this flash flood, Sethi said.

“At least 140 people, who were trapped in the flood water, have been rescued. The members of NDRF, ODRAF, Fire Service and state police have been engaged in the rescue and relief operation,” additional director general (Communication) BN Jha told reporters after the review meeting.

Meanwhile, the chief minister asked the collectors of Rayagada, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Cuttack to undertake flood damage assessment within seven days.

Patnaik also asked the districts to work in a coordinated manner.

The twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack have also been affected with water logging due to the incessant rainfall since Saturday. In 18 major localities in Cuttack, residents had a tough time stepping out of their houses as the lanes and by-lanes were submerged in water. Cuttack received 154.5 mm of rainfall over the 24 hours till Monday morning.

The local administrations have been undertaking water removal jobs using pump sets in low lying areas of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, official sources said.

East Coast Railway sources said at least six trains were cancelled, eight diverted and two short terminated while two other trains were rescheduled in south Odisha due to rain and flood situation.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday directed all departments to work on a war-footing to restore road and power connectivity to the flood-hit villages.