Incessant rain since Saturday triggers flash flood; dozens of villages marooned; 1 dead Thousands of villagers in Odisha’s Rayagada and Kalahandi districts have been cut off from other parts following flash floods triggered by incessant rain since Saturday evening. One person died in landslide while dozens of villages were marooned by flood water in Kalyansingpur block of Rayagada and Thuamul Rampur block of Kalahandi. Four bridges including a railway bridge were washed away in swirling flood water dispprupting both vehicular and train movements on Sunday. Flood water was flowing above the Rayagada–Andhra Pradesh road. As many as 11 trains were cancelled while five other trains were diverted to other routes. While Thuamul-Rampur area of Kalahandi received 260 mm rainfall in past 24 hours, Kashipur block in Rayagada recorded 237 mm rainfall during the same period causing flash flood in Nagabali and Kalyan rivers. In Kalahandi, water level in Hati river was rising. “About 80% of Kalyansingpur block has been submerged by water. Flood water had also entered residential schools for tribal children. They have been rescued by the administration. Once helicopter from Visakhapatnam reaches the district on Monday morning, we will intensify our rescue and relief operation,” said Rayagada collector Guha Punam Tapas Kumar. Schools have been closed for three days in Kalyansingpur and Rayagada blocks. As the situation continued to be grim, four helicopters of IAF have been requisitioned for air-dropping of food packets as well as rescue of people. The government has also intimated the Army about situation. Both the district administrations had already started rescue operations with the help of Central Reserve Police Force, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and State fire service personnel. Three units of National Disaster Response Force with equipment and boats will be joining the operation from wee hours of Monday. Leaves cancelled In the morning, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik rushed to control room of Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) to take stock of the situation. He directed development commissioner and special relief commissioner to supervise the rescue and relief operations in affected areas. Leaves of all government officials were cancelled in affected blocks. “No efforts will be spared to ensure safety of people,” said Mr. Patnaik. Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar Meteorological Department predicted heavy rain during next 48 hours as the low pressure area that had formed over Bay of Bengal was likely to further intensify into depression.