Bhubaneswar, Sept 9: Incessant rain and rising river levels have isolated several areas of Malkangiri district, cutting them off from the rest of the world. Floodwaters, reaching heights of 5-6 feet in some areas, have marooned residents in their homes. Hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying essential commodities, have been stranded across the district since Sunday.

The connection between Kalimela and Motu has been severed, with floodwaters overflowing the culverts on MV-90 and MV-96. Additionally, communication between Malkangiri and Koraput districts has been completely disrupted, as National Highway No. 326 is submerged under floodwaters.

The Poteru River has spilled over into nearby villages, submerging houses, schools, and commercial establishments. With rain continuing to fall, the situation is likely to worsen. Many residents have been forced to leave their homes and seek refuge on the upper floors of the Poteru police station.

Traffic between Jeypore and Malkangiri has been halted, as floodwaters rise 10 feet above the culvert on the Pangam River. Other areas, including MV-7, Poteru, Kangurukunda, MV-90, MV-96, Pangam, and Kanyashram, are also underwater.

Malkangiri faces this situation every monsoon, forcing residents to flee their homes in search of food and shelter. Despite the recurring nature of these floods, the district administration has yet to implement permanent measures to protect the local population during the rainy season.

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