Cargo operation affected in Paradip port of Orissa due to incessant rainfall

Report by Amarnath Parida; Paradip: Many areas in the port city were reeling under rain water as heavy downpour lashed the region throwing normal life out of gear. Nearly four persons have been killed in lighting while hundreds hectors of paddy crop have been destroyed in Erasama and Balikuda areas.

The situation has been worsened in Paradip areas while residents have been staying in door since one week due to heavy rainfall. Brindban colony, Nayabazar, and other slum areas of Port city have been waterlogged so the residents are living in miserable life. With street drains overflowing due to week long rain, the situation worsened as the drainage and sewerage points failed to cope with heavy shower.

Paddy seeds which were sown for transplanting have been completely damaged in Erasama and Balikuda areas. More than 10,000 hectors of paddy crops have been damaged due to stranded of rain water in paddy since one week. Besides this, four persons have been killed in lighting while more than fifty houses have been collapsed, District emergency officer Mr Sarojakant Mohanty has expressed that despite heavy rainfall, no flood-like situation has yet been reported from any part of the district. He said that relief materials have been stocked in in-access 93 panchyats to meet any eventuality.

Incessant rain fall has affected loading and unloading of cargo in Paradip port as all ships stranded at the berths since the formation of depression in northern Bay of Bengal on Monday. Only import vessels are able to carry out the discharge operations, whereas the export of iron ore and other minerals are badly hit as the cargo berths and plots are waterlogged with a height of about 2 to 3 feet at some places. Around 50 ships are waiting at anchorage and this rain will aggravate the congestion further. The low-lying areas of Paradip are flooded with rain water damaging the thatched houses of poor and daily labourers.

District administration has geared up its machinery to bring normalcy in worst hit Paradip, Kujang and Erasama areas. Realising the situation, district collector Mr Gayanranjan Das visited Brindaban colony and other waterlogged areas in port city and directed Paradip Port Trust authority and executive officer, Paradip municipality to take steps to release rain water from affected areas.