Berhampur: Road communication between Katama and Phajiguda in Gajapati district's Mohana block was disrupted following a landslide triggered by heavy rain on Wednesday. People from six villages were affected by the landslides at Paliguda near Katama.The affected villages Katama, Paliguda, Jadingi, Gotha, Tangili, Rangagudi and Tuabadi — are all located along the Gajapati-Kandhamal border.While light vehicles, including bikes and cars, are operating on the road belonging to the rural development department, heavy vehicles could not ply, sources said.Gajapati collector Bijay Chandra Dash stated that some morrum soil washed away from the nearby hills and collected on the road.

"Communication was not totally disrupted as cars and bikes are plying. Rural development engineers from Mohana rushed to the spot to assess the situation," he said.The collector said he directed them to clean the road and restore communication. Work would start after rain stops, he added. Heavy rain lashed the area since Wednesday morning under the influence of the low-pressure area formed in the Bay of Bengal.Life in Ganjam district was also disrupted due to the widespread rain. Waterlogging was witnessed in several low-lying areas in silk city, while the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) has geared up its machinery to clean the clogged drains, sources said.