Cyclone Daye hits Odisha coast, triggers heavy rains in parts of state

Cyclone Daye has caused heavy to very heavy rainfall in Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts. The worst affected Malkangiri district, which bore the brunt, was virtually cut off from the rest of the state.

The cyclonic storm which led to a heavy downpour has caused several rivers in Malkangiri district including Pangam, Saptadhara, Korukonda to flow above the danger-level. Photo: ANI

BHUBANESWAR: Cyclone 'Daye' hit the Odisha coast near Gopalpur early Friday as parts of state have been witnessing heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms. Cyclone Daye has caused heavy to very heavy rainfall in Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts. The worst affected Malkangiri district, which bore the brunt, was virtually cut off from the rest of the state. The cyclonic storm which led to a heavy downpour has caused several rivers in Malkangiri district including Pangam, Saptadhara, Korukonda to flow above the danger-level. The road communication between the district and Chhattisgarh has also been disrupted. With water crossing danger level in Balimela reservoir in Malkangiri district, four gates of the reservoir have been opened, IANS quoted an official as saying. Heavy rains also lashed nearby Koraput, Rayagada and Nabarangpur districts. The MeT centre forecast heavy to very heavy rain in several places in Rayagada, Kalahandi, Koraput and Nabarangpur districts till Saturday. Heavy to very heavy rain is also likely to occur at some places in Balangir, Bararh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts till Saturday morning, it said. The impact of the cyclonic storm was also felt in Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha, Nayagarh and Puri districts, while districts like Mayurbhanj, Balasore and Bhadrak were lashed by heavy downpour. The state government has instructed officials in coastal districts and various departments to tackle any emergency situation, official sources said. While the IMD had predicted damage to thatched hut, roads, crops and minor damage to power and communication lines in Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha, Nayagarh and Puri districts at the time of landfall, the state government is in the process of assessing the damage, if any. Taking the situation into account, the NDRF and the ODRAF have been deployed in different districts. One NDRF team each has been deployed in Kalahandi, Rayagada, Gajapati, Puri, Nayagarh and Kandhamal districts with 17 boats and other emergency equipment. (With inputs from agencies)