Heavy rainfall has severely impacted Malkangiri district in Odisha, prompting an extensive emergency response. The district has experienced record-breaking rainfall over the past 24 hours, leading to significant flooding and disruptions.
In response to the deluge, the district administration, in collaboration with the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), has successfully evacuated around 1,800 residents from vulnerable low-lying areas. These individuals have been relocated to temporary shelters, including school buildings and panchayat offices in Kalimela, Motu, Podia, Potteru, MV-16, and Malkangiri municipality. Children from Kalimela Government SSD Girls High School and Girkanpally Ashram School have also been moved to safer locations.
ODRAF teams have been actively involved in rescue operations, including the evacuation of 60 people, such as construction workers stranded at sites like MV-40 and MV-39. All evacuated individuals are being provided with dry rations and cooked meals.
To manage the crisis, four additional ODRAF teams have been deployed across the affected areas: one in Potteru, another in Motu, and the remaining two on standby for Khairput and Malkangiri town.
Record Rainfall and Rising Water Levels
The district has recorded the highest rainfall in the state over the last day, with Malkangiri receiving 253 mm of rain. Other areas include Chitrakonda (225 mm), Khairput (217 mm), Korukonda (200 mm), Mathili (150 mm), Kalimela (127 mm), and Podia (98 mm).
The water level at the Balimela reservoir has surged to 1,504 feet, nearing its full capacity of 1,516 feet. The Machhkund powerhouse has discharged 45,000 cusecs of surplus water, causing the reservoir level to rise by about 2 feet every six hours. There are concerns about potential breaches in the Satiguda right and left main canals, and the spillway may soon be opened to release excess water into Andhra Pradesh’s Gunthawada Dam, according to administration sources.
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