Cyclone Phailin triggers heavy floods in Mayurbhanj, Baleswar districts

Bhubaneswar, Oct 14: Heavy downpour triggered by the severe cyclonic storm Phailin on Monday triggered floods in several rivers in Odisha, with the state government describing the situation in Mayurbhanj and Baleswar districts as “critical”.
Relief and rescue operations have been launched in the affected areas.

“The situation due to floods caused by cyclone induced rainfall is critical in Mayurbhanj and Baleswar districts where major rivers like Budhabalanga and Subarnarekha are in spate following sudden inflow of water,” Special Relief Commissioner PK Mohapatra said.

Though water level in rivers in Bhadrak also rose menacingly following heavy rains, the situation in the district is now under control, he said.

Describing the situation grim especially in Baleswar, the official said water level in Budhabalanga has risen to 9.24 meters against the red mark of 8.13 at Gobindpur near NH-5.

Similarly, Subarnarekha was now flowing at 11.7 meters against the danger level of 10.36 metre at Rajghat near Jaleswar, he said, adding 39 panchayats in four blocks of Baleswar district were under the grip of flood.

Steps have been taken for air-dropping of food packets in flood-hit areas of Baleswar where the personnel of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed, while water level in rivers in Mayurbhanj has started receding, Mohapatra said.

It is apprehended that river Budhabalanga might further rise in Baleswar in view of heavy rains in the catchment areas, officials said.

Similarly, Jalaka river was flowing at 6.73 metres against its danger level of 5.50 at Basta. Other small rivers like Sona, Gangahar, Kansa and Bausa were also in spate in Baleswar district, they said.

The flood water of Budhabalanga had entered many low-lying areas of Balasore Sadar and Remuna blocks near here while several places under Baliapal and Bhogarai were affected by the water from river Subarnarekha.

Flood water from river Jalaka had entered many villages under Basta block. Roads between Basta and Baliapal and Baleswar and Jaleswar were submerged with flood water with over 3 feet water flowing on the roads and the places remained cut off.

Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Orissa Disaster Response Action Force (ODRAF) had arrived in the areas for carrying out rescue operation, they said.

Flood’s fury also loomed large over Ganjam, worst hit due to the cyclone ‘Phailin’ left the district with a trail of devastation.

Rivers Rushikulya and Badanadi had crossed danger level at Aska, 40 km from Brahmapur in Ganjam district, this morning though there is no report of any loss but even as engineers of the state water resources department are keeping a watch on the situation.

“The water level of both the rivers is likely to recede by this evening,” said chief engineer-cum-basin manager of Rushikulya, Bansadhara and Nagabali rivers RN Swain.

Now Badanadi was flowing at 36.15 meer at Aska against its danger level 35.42 meter while Rushikulya’s level at Aska stood at 34.75 met against it danger level 33.85 metre.

Rushikulya was now flowing at near danger level at Sorada at 81.33 metre against danger level of 81.99 while at Purushottampur it flows at 17.150 metres against the danger level of 16.83 meters.

Similarly, Badanadai was flowing at near danger level at Madhabarida at 60.04 metre against danger level of 60.65 while Bansadhara at Kasinagar in adjoining Gajapati district is flowing at 54.25 metre against danger level of 54.60 metre.

The Badanadi had caused two breaches at Gujarari and Ratnagiri near Sorisamul barrage. Almost all the reservoirs in the district are now full with Flood Reserve Level (FRL), he said, adding the Bhanjanagar reservoir was now discharge 7.77 cubic metre of while Daha reservoir at Bhanjanagar was discharging 21.85 cubic metre of water. (PTI)