JEYPORE: Low pressure-induced rain disrupted normal life in the region with most rivers in spate. Incessant rains lashed hills as well as plains of Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada and Malkangiri districts in the last four days with an average of 80-mm rainfall being recorded every day. The Indravati, Jhanjabati, Nagabali, Bansadhara, Saleru, Saveri, Kolab, Saptadhara, Tel and Turi rivers flowing through the tribal areas have crossed the danger level at many places. This has affected communication with water flowing onto roads and over bridges. Vehicular traffic came to a standstill in and outside Koraput, Rayagada, Kalahandi and Malkangiri for the last three days. Laxmipur, Bandhugam, Narayanpatana, Dasamantpur, Kundura and Kotpad remained cut off and essential services out of bounds of the people. Sources said over 5,000 houses in the district had been damaged in the recent rains. With the ongoing public holidays following Ganesh puja and Nuakhai, Government agencies and officials are yet to assess the damage to property and life in the region. Preliminary reports suggest that about 300-km rural and State roads have been damaged and washed away in the torrential rains. Similarly, paddy crop over 5,000 acres has been damaged in Jeypore as rainwater has submerged crop at many places, while fields have been sand cast in Jeypore, Kotpad, Kundra and borrigumma pockets, farmers said.HEALTH SERVICES: Health scenario in the tribal pockets has further worsened with malaria and gastroenteritis reportedly spreading to inaccessible tribal pockets of Dasmantpur, Laxmipur and Boipariguda. Non-availability of urgent health services has mounted their woes. Official sources said that medical teams would be rushed to different block headquarters once weather clears up. With the region receiving 400-mm rainfall, the highest this monsoon, there is good news for the farmers of upper Kolab irrigation project command areas with heavy inflow of rainwater from Kolab catchment areas. Official sources said about 300 cusec water per second flowed into Kolab reservoir for the first time in the year raising the water level to 848 metre. The low water level in the reservoir during August had created panic with engineers anticipating severe crunch in irrigation water supply for the ensuing kharif crop. The rain has helped to tide over the water shortage in the dam, official sources added. Meanwhile, Jeypore MLA Rabi Naryan Nanda, reviewed the flood situation in the tribal areas with revenue officials and directed the sub-collector and the tehsildar to survey the damage caused to life and property. He also visited several affected villages under Jeypore block.
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