Cyclone-induced rain submerges many villages in three Odisha Districts
Several villages in Odisha's Bhadrak and Jajpur districts were on Friday inundated due to flash floods in the river Baitarani and its tributaries, while a swollen river Subarnarekha, triggered by incessant rain under Cyclone Yaas impact, affected three blocks of Balasore District, reports said. Moreover, three blocks of the Jajpur District were flooded due to the swelling of the river Baitarani and its tributaries.
More than 11,500 people are impacted in Jajpur District
The floodwater of Baitarani and its tributary Kani has inundated large areas of Jajpur— Dasarathapur, and Korei blocks, affecting more than 11,500 people. Two embankments of the river Kani have breached near Kantipada and Palasahi villages under Dasarathpur block.
Here are the villages severely impacted in the Jajpur District
More than 10,500 people of 27 villages under 10 panchayats of Dasarathapur block have been affected due to the flood. Likewise, the water of the river Baitarani has gushed into low-lying areas of Panasa gram panchayat of Jajpur block and Mukundapur and Bandala panchayats of Korai block in the Jajpur District, affecting over 1,000 people.
People stuck inside houses due to knee-deep water on roads
Besides, thousands of acres of agricultural lands in all three blocks have been submerged in floodwater. The district administration has asked people residing in low-lying areas to shift to safer places. Since Thursday, in Dasarathpur block people are unable to leave their homes in some areas due to knee-deep water on the roads.
Collector assured that embankments will be repaired soon
Jajpur Collector Chakravarti Singh Rathore visited the breaches in Dasarathapur block on Thursday night to take stock of the flood situation and assured that embankments will be repaired soon. He also visited Korei and Jajpur flood-hit areas on Friday and inspected relief and rescue operations.
Baitarani river is flowing above the danger mark
Meanwhile, the river Baitarani which was flowing at 19 meters, 1.17 meters higher than the danger level, at Akhuapada village in Bhadrak District, started receding from Friday afternoon. The river Baitarani is still flowing above the danger mark. The river is flowing at 18.08 meters at Akhuapada against its danger level of 18.98 meters at 9 pm on Friday.
ODRAF team deployed for rescue operation in Bhadrak District
Similarly, heavy rain has submerged several areas in the Dhamnagar and Bhandaripokhari blocks of the Bhadrak District. The district administration has deployed two Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams in the Dhamnagar block and one ODRAF team in Bhandaripokhari for the rescue operation. District Collector Gyana Ranjan Das said that he visited the flood-affected areas in the two blocks.
Low-lying areas in three blocks of Balasore are heavily flooded
Similarly, in the Balasore District the water level in Subarnarekha swelled, and floodwater entered the villages located in low-lying areas in three blocks—Jaleswar, Bbhograi, and Baliapal. The water level at the Rajghat area of Balasore was flowing close to the warning level and the district administration has launched a relief and rescue operation.
