Koraput: Altogether 1,154 people, including 139 pregnant women, were evacuated from vulnerable areas of Malkangiri as the incessant rain threw normal life out of gear on Friday. Several bridges were submerged and road connectivity was snapped at multiple places.According to the district emergency operation centre (DEOC), the district received 1,029 mm of rainfall during the 24-hour period from 8 am on Thursday to 8 am on Friday. Malkangiri recorded the highest rainfall of 162.2 mm, followed by Kalimela (153 mm), Mathili (150.9 mm), Korukonda (149.3 mm), Podia (147.4 mm), Khairput (146.8 mm) and Chitrakonda (119.4 mm).Water has been flowing 3 to 4 ft above the Poteru, Kangurukonda, MV-96 and MV-90 bridges since Thursday and around 4 ft of water was flowing over the Pangam bridge on Friday, disrupting traffic on the Jeypore-Motu route. Also, the district’s connectivity with Hyderabad has been hit.The administration has also closed the main road between Balimela and Chitrakonda as a precautionary measure in view of the possibility of landslides along the ghat road. Several low-lying areas of Malkangiri town have been inundated, while uprooted trees have blocked roads at several places. Fire services and ODRAF teams have been deployed to clear the roads.Officials have been deployed to continuously monitor vulnerable areas, and response teams have been kept ready. “Our priority is to ensure the safety of people and evacuate those living in vulnerable locations to safer places,” said collector (Malkangiri) Prathamesh Aravind Rajeshirke.As many as 58 villages in six blocks of Malkangiri, Kalimela, Mathili, Motu, Chitrakonda and Khairput have been affected. The evacuated people have been shifted to eight safe shelters, while 458 students from different ashram schools have also been relocated under the supervision of the district welfare officer.Of the 139 pregnant women evacuated, 90 have been shifted to Maa Gruhas and 49 kept at the district headquarters hospital. Official sources said 22 deliveries have been conducted safely, including 18 at the district hospital and four at Maa Gruhas. Arrangements have also been made to shift critically ill patients through safe alternative routes, an official said.Major landslides have been reported on Bayapada ghat road, where JCB machines have been deployed for restoration work. Repair of damaged electricity poles is underway. The administration has arranged cooked food, drinking water and dry ration for people affected by the rain. Officials have urged people to remain alert, avoid crossing submerged bridges and refrain from believing or spreading rumours, the collector said.
