Fully ready to combat floods, says Odisha government

Reported by Chinmaya Dehury
Bhubaneswar, July 21:

Even as the water level has kept rising steadily in several rivers of the state following incessant rains over the last three days, the Odisha government today claimed that it was fully prepared to deal with the possible flood it could trigger.

“There is a possibility of flood in Keonjhar, Jajpur and Bhadrak districts. All arrangements are being made to deal with any situation. Instructions have been given to the Collectors of these three districts to take steps for evacuation of people from low-lying areas to safe places,” said Special Relief Commissioner P K Mohapatra after a high level meeting on the flood situation chaired by chief secretary JK Mohapatra here today.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to chair another meeting on the flood threat later this evening.

The water level was on the rise in major rivers, including Mahanadi, Devi, Kushabhadra, Vamsadhara and Brahmani. The water of Baitarani river is flowing above the danger level in Anandpur and Akhuapada while it is threatening to touch the danger level in Swampatna.

Mohapatra informed that teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been sent to these districts to undertake necessary evacuation and rescue operations.

In what could pose more problem for the government though, the met department has forecast heavy rainfall several parts of both coastal and interiors Odisha over the next 24 hours.

Under the influence of a cyclonic circulation, a low pressure area has formed over the North Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas which is expected to trigger rains for the next few days in Odisha, the meteorological centre here said.

Rain and thundershower would occur at most places over the state during the next two days, said Sarat Sahu, Director of the meteorological centre.