Odisha rivers receding but people’s misery continues

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 8:

While flood situation in all major rivers of Odisha has eased, it is still grim in areas downstream of the Mahanadi river system.

Reports from Puri said following a breach in the embankment of Daya river at Jorakani near Ghoradia, floodwater has entered eight panchayats of Delang, Kanas and Jatni blocks. Of the 13,000 affected people of these blocks, the district administration has evacuated 3000 people to safer places.

Over 20 passengers were seriously injured when a Nayagarh-Puri bound private bus overturned at Kesharpur in flood-hit Kanas block this morning.

Meanwhile, the Hirakud dam authorities this morning closed two more gates.

The reservoir is now receiving 5,05, 253 lakh cusecs of water while 6,38,668 lakh cusecs of water was being released from 38 gates.

Till reports last came in, water level of the reservoir was 627.31 feet.

The inflow of Mahanadi floodwater at Mundali barrage at Naraj was 10.88 lakh cusecs by 9 AM.

In Boudh district, 35 villages have been surrounded by the floodwater of Mahanadi that was flowing at a height of one-and-half feet, reports said.

In Bhadrak district, the floodwater of Salandi river was flowing above the danger level at 17.40 feet at Rajghat.

In Kendrapada district, a breach occurred in the embankment of Luna river at Maharakul of Marsaghai block this morning while eight villages of Andara panchayat of Pattamundia block have been surrounded by floodwater of Brahmani following a 28-feet wide breach in the embankment near a slum at Andara village of Pattamundai block.

A boy of Balighai village of Antei panchayat in Kendrapara district was killed after he was swept away by floodwater of Brahmani river.

Reports said the flood situation continues to be grim as the Luna, Chitrotpala and Paika rivers were flowing above the danger level.

A youth of Mirzapur village in Bhadrak district was swept away by the floodwater of Salandi river. Reports said that there has been heavy rain in the district since this morning. Flood situation in 24 panchayats of Chandbali and Tihidi blocks in Bhadrak district has become acute as the water level of Manchei and Salandi rivers was on the rise.

In Jajpur district, floodwater of Brahmani and Baitarani was receding.

Briefing the media today, deputy special relief commissioner Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra said the flood situation in Puri and Kendrapara districts continues to be grim.

Aul and Rajkanika blocks of Kendrapara districts and Delang, Kanas, Nimapara, Gop and Konark blocks in Puri districts have been badly affected by flood, he added.

He said a total of 84,650 people of 12 districts have taken shelter in several relief camps. Considering the flood situation, the state government has decided to provide free kitchen service to these people for seven days.