Cyclone ‘Titli’ aftermath: Several rivers flowing above danger marks in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: In the aftermath of severe cyclonic storm ‘Titli’, several rivers in Odisha are flowing above the danger marks triggering panic among residents especially in Ganjam, Bhadrak and Balasore districts.

While Baitarani River is flowing at 18.03 metre against danger mark of 17.83 metre near Akhuapada in Bhadrak district, Budhabalanga river is flowing at 8.22 metre against danger mark of 8.13 metre at Barunighat in Balasore district.

Similarly, Jalaka River is flowing at 6.50 metre against danger mark of 5.50 metre at Mathani in Balasore. Over 20 panchayats under Basta, Sadar and Remuna blocks are inundated and rainwater is flowing on the roads in low lying areas of the district.

The water level of Rushikulya River is at its peak on post cyclone Titli at Kainchapur, Vetsingh, Langaleswar areas in Ganjam district.

A three-member ministerial committee constituted by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday visited Ganjam district this morning to monitor the rescue, relief and restoration operations. The members will attend a meeting at Chhatrapur today to take future course of action.

The committee comprises Maheswar Mohanty, Niranjan Pujari, Sushant Singh as the members.

Meanwhile, the Finance Minister Sashi Bhusan Behera and Commerce & Transport Minister Ramesh Majhi left for Kandhamal district to monitor relief and restoration operations today.

The rescue and restoration operations are in progress in three flood hit districts — Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada. The fire service and ODRAF teams have been deployed in rescuing women and children, packing sand bags and supplying cooked food to people in submerged villages.