Flood follows cyclone in Ganjam, Odisha; 50,000 people evacuated

About 50,000 people were evacuated today as flash flood claimed two lives and inundated 129 villages in five blocks of Odisha's cyclone-hit Ganjam district along with some areas in Gajapati.

"Following heavy rain for four days, water level in rivers in south Odisha are above danger level and have entered many villages," Special Relief Commissioner P K Mohapatra told reporters here.

The blocks affected in flash flood include Chikiti, Hinjili, Sana Khemundi, Patrapur, Dharakote, Aska, Parlakhemundi, Mohana. Some areas of Gajapati district were also reported to have been affected.

Mohapatra said the collectors of all coastal districts have been directed to evacuate people from low-lying areas.

Two persons have died in wall collapse due to rain in Khallikote and Rangeilunda since yesterday, district emergency officer Mahendra Panda said.

About 40,000 marooned people had been evacuated from Patrapur, Sana Khemundi, Chikiti, Digappahandi, Hinjili, Sheragada and Purushottampur in Ganjam, he said.

Another 10,000 people were evacuated from Gajapati district, the special relief commissioner's office said.