3 die in wall collapse, flood fear looms large

ROURKELA: Three persons, including a child, in Rourkela died as wall in a house collapsed following incessant rain on Thursday night. Tangarpali police said the deceased have been identified as Sarpa Mundari (30), her seven-year-old son Lakiram and her neighbour Sushila Jena (40).They belonged to Fertilizer Township area and were declared brought dead at the Ispat General Hospital. Water level in the river Brahmani was rising with release of water from the Mandira reservoir.Apprehensive of flash flood along the banks of the Brahmani, the Sundargarh administration reviewed flood preparedness.Reports said incessant downpour in the catchments of the river Sankh, which meets the Brahmani at Vedvyas, increased the water level.Moreover, another sluice gate of the RSP’s Mandira dam was opened on Friday as water was being released through seven of the total 11 gates.RSP sources said due to heavy downpour in Chhattisgarh, the reservoir was receiving more than 30 lakh cubic metre of water and releasing 27 lakh cubic metre to maintain balance between inflow and outflow.Sundargarh Collector Rupa Roshan Sahu said the Brahmani water level at Panposh bridge touched 176.5 metre against the danger mark of 180.She said the situation is being closely monitored.