Waterlogged Roads, No Connectivity: Odisha Villages Cry for Food, Medical Aid

Video Producer: Varsha Rani

Video Editor: Puneet Bhatia

For 48 hours, on 13 and 14 September, Dhenkanal district of Odisha was lashed by incessant rainfall.

I live in Dhenkanal, and looking at the condition of my own town, I decided to travel to Manadapal and other villages in the district, to assess the situation.

As expected, the non-stop rain had caused extreme waterlogging in the villages of Kotpal and Mandapal. As a result, it was difficult for me to commute through the area.

I met and spoke to the head of the village (mukhia), who said that the heavy rainfall had resulted in the loss of over 400 acres of crops.

Left Without Food, No Access To Medical Aid

"As much as 400 acres of our crop land has been ruined due to the heavy rainfall. The entire village is filled with water. We don’t know what to do. I request the government to help us."

Farmer, from Mandapal Village

During my travels, I saw that many houses of the village were completely damaged. There’s shortage of food and children are falling sick, their parents are unable to take them to the hospital. Even day-to-day activities are difficult to do.

"I’ve not had food for two days, and lost my house too. I request the government to help us."

Cina Sahoo, a resident of Nimidha village in the Dhenkanal district.

Rain Snaps Communication in Villages

The rainfall has also snapped communication in villages as connecting roads have been damaged. I took all the videos and photos but wasn't able to send them as there was poor connectivity while I was on the road.

As soon as I reached home, with some connectivity, I managed to send the videos. That's how difficult life becomes during the rains here.

We now wish that the rains stop and normalcy is restored.

(The citizen journalist is an environmentalist. All 'My Report' branded stories are submitted by citizen journalists to The Quint. Though The Quint inquires into the claims/allegations from all parties before publishing, the report and the views expressed above are the citizen journalist's own. The Quint neither endorses, nor is responsible for the same.)