Odisha flood: Breaches in Bhadrak, Jajpur leave 80 villages inundated

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, July 22:

People in nearly hundred villages in Odisha have been marooned or badly affected by flooding rivers following incessant rainfall since Saturday.

According to reports, several villages were inundated following a 150-feet breach in Bantarani embankment at Patapur in the Jajpur district this morning.

The breach occurred in the morning hours. Nearly 30 villages of three panchayats have been marooned by floodwaters, reports said.

In another incident, around 50 villages across three panchayats were flooded following a 100-feet breach in Sathie Bankuda river in Bhadrak district this morning.

Besides, floodwater of Baitarani and Genguti river have disrupted road communication to Dhamnagar and Khadipala blocks and Kanjiapal village in the district.

Till reports last came in, a boy from Bhatta Sahi under Dhamnagar block of the district died after he was swept away by floodwater.

Briefing the media today, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Mohapatra said the collectors of Jajpur and Bhadrak districts have been asked to take steps to shift the villagers marooned following the breaches to safer places.

He, however, said that there is no flood threat in Keonjhar district following recession of floodwater in the lower catchment area.

Meanwhile, reports from Keonjhar said road communication to Ghatagaon and Harichandanpur has been cut off due flood in Musaladhara river in Anandpur. There is no road communication to Khalsaghat and Palisahi panchayats due to overtopping of the road connecting the Bonai block by floodwater.

According to reports, a man from Haridapal village of Anandpur block died after he was swept away by the raging floodwater of Kusei river on Monday.

With this the death toll in current flood in the state has risen to three.

In Baleswar district, six villages under Sabarang panchayat of Simulia block and five villages of Baunripada panchayat of Soro block have been surrounded by the floodwater of Kansabansa river that was flowing over the danger level.

Reports from Titlagarh said the floodwater of Silet Nullah has severed road communication between Belagan and Titlagarh.

Reports from Boudh said road communication to Kantamala and Ghantapada has been disrupted as the floodwater of Tel river was flowing at a height of 7 feet on Mallikud road.