Cyclone Titli triggers heavy rainfall; flood like situation in Odisha

October 12, 2018 Environment

Bhubaneswar: The severe cyclonic storm ‘Titli’has triggered heavy rainfall across Odisha in the past 24 hours causing a flood-like situation in the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri and Balasore.

The water is flowing above danger level in Vansadhara, Rusikulya and Jalaka rivers triggering flood like situation in the areas.

The situation remains vulnerable especially in Ganjam and Gajapati districts where the remote areas have been cut off due to incessant rain triggered by the cyclonic storm ‘Titli’.

The road communication was disrupted in low lying areas of Balasore district. According to reports, the flood water is flowing 6 meters above the danger mark in the Jalaka River.

Four blocks in Ganjam- Aska, Purusotampur and parts of Chhatrapur and Ganjam are worst affected due to the heavy downpour. Aska remained cut-off form mainland from Hinjili side.

During a review meeting on flood situation by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over video conferencing, Ganjam collector on Friday sought a chopper to expedite the relief and rescue operations.

The Chief Minister took stock of the flood situation and cyclone restoration works in Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada districts.

Meanwhile, the regional meteorological centre predicted heavy rainfall in several districts during next 24 hours.

“Heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places likely to occur over the districts Balasore, Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Cuttack Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Mayurbhanj of Odisha from today till Oct 13,” said Bhubaneswar MeT in a bulletin.

Notably, the cyclonic storm ‘Titli’ over south Odisha moved eastwards in past six hours with speed 8 kmph, weakened into a deep depression and lay centered at 11.30 pm of October 11 over south Odisha near latitude 20.1 degree N and longitude 84.2 degree E, 100 km east-northeast of Bhawanipatna and 50 km north-northeast of Phulbani.

It is likely to move northeastwards towards Gangetic West Bengal across north Odisha.