Flood water inundates over 50 villages in Odisha’s Balasore

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Balasore, Aug 19:

Incessant rainfall in the upper catchment areas in neighbouring Jharkhand has caused a flood-like situation in Odisha’s north Balasore where over 50 villages have been submerged in flood water.

According to reports, flood water released from Galudih barrage in Jharkhand has resulted in the inundation of several villages in Balasore district. Torrential rains in the upper catchments of Subarnarekha have submerged the lower catchment areas in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts.

The water level of Subarnarekha crossed the danger mark of 10.36 metre at Rajghat in the district and touched 11.48 metre this afternoon. The water was flowing 1.12 meter above the danger mark. By 3 pm, over 50 villages in seven panchayats under Bhograi block have been severely affected of which three villages have been cut off from the outer world.

Balasore district’s Basta, Baliapal, Jaleswar and Rasgobindpur in Mayurbhanj district are likely to be the worst-hit if the rain water doesn’t recede, reports added.

Over 50 villages under Kharidapippal, Rasalpur, Jairampur, Kushuda, Tukurihajira, Nachinda, Mahagaba, Gunusarthi panchayats under Bhograi block are affected. The worst-affected panchayats are Mununagar, Laxminagarpatna and Khandakariya.

District Collector, Sub-Collector and other senior district administration officials today reviewed the flood situation. One unit of NDRF and four teams of ODRAF have been put on standby to deal with the situation.

The Special Relief Commissioner stressed that there is no need to panic and the water level is likely to come down from this evening.

“Four teams of ODRAF and one of NDRF have been stationed at Basta, Baliapal, Jaleswar and Rasgobindpur blocks. The situation is not alarming. Water level is coming down in upper catchment areas in Jamshola Ghat and Jameshdpur,” Special Relief Commissioner Pradipta Mohapatra said.