The incessant rains since last Tuesday night have completely affected the normal life of Bargarh district. Many places from rural to urban areas of the district are submerged, while people are facing various problems. Traffic is hampered due to rainwater on the streets and main roads. In many places, drain water and rainwater have entered the houses of people, destroying household goods and disrupting normal life.
In many places in the district, including various villages of Chakrakend Panchayat, some thatched houses have collapsed due to the incessant rains. As the rain continues, the situation has not improved significantly. The plight of the people has further increased due to the delay in water drainage.
In many areas of Bargarh city, including Bandutikra, Khajuratikra, Railway Station Pada, Nyabhapada, Talipada, Shakti Nagar, VSS Nagar, drain water and rainwater have entered the houses and disrupted the life of the people. Many families have been forced to shift their daily necessities to safer places as their houses are submerged in water.
On the other hand, the district administration, as a precautionary measure, announced the closure of all government and private schools and colleges in the district on Wednesday in view of the incessant rains. The administration has advised the people of the low-lying areas to remain alert and not to venture out of their homes unnecessarily.
In such a situation, people have demanded the administration to quickly drain the water, assess the damage and provide immediate assistance to the affected families. As the rain continues, anxiety has increased among the people of the district and it is reported that the administration is monitoring the situation. Heavy rainfall has been recorded in all 12 blocks of the district in the last 48 hours. According to the information released by the district administration, during this period, the district has received a total of 2366.8 mm of rainfall while the average rainfall is 197.2 mm. According to the block level rainfall report, Bijepur: 315 mm (maximum), Barpali: 252 mm, Gaisilet: 251 mm, Bhatli: 228.4 mm, Atabira: 200 mm, Bargarh: 196.4 mm, Paikamal: 193 mm, Sohela: 186 mm, Bheden: 148 mm, Padmapur: 148 mm, Jharbandh: 137 mm, Ambabhona: 112 mm (minimum) have been recorded.
The situation has become complicated in these areas, especially in Bijepur, Barpali, Gaisilet and Bhatli blocks, as more than 200 mm of rainfall has been recorded. The low-lying areas have been flooded due to rainwater intrusion. Due to the heavy rain, various canals including the main rivers of the district, Jira and Anga, have swelled. As a result, a large area of farmland has been submerged and crops have been damaged. In view of the possible flooding and waterlogging situation, the district administration has ordered all block vigilance officers to remain on high alert and monitor the situation.
