TV
Flood woes have deepened in Odisha after a massive breach occurred in the Kani river embankment, a distributary of the Baitarani, near Jajpur early Monday morning.
According to reports, a 20 to 30-ft-wide breach opened near the Muslim Sahi dargah close to Ahiyas-Kaspa under the Dasarathpur block at around 4:50 am, following heavy overnight showers.
With the Baitarani river flowing above the danger mark, strong currents battered the weak points of the Kani river embankment, eventually causing it to collapse. As a result, floodwaters surged into nearby habitations, submerging villages and agricultural land.
Four Panchayats Under Water
At least four panchayats of Ahiyas, Mallikapur, Kaspa, and Mahanti Patana have been affected. Villagers woke up to floodwaters gushing into homes, forcing families to rush to safer places. Several areas remain cut off, while croplands are under several feet of water.
Locals said the breach expanded rapidly within hours, inundating farmlands and threatening more habitations downstream.
Meanwhile, flood control officials confirmed that disaster response teams have been alerted, and the district administration is monitoring the breach site. Officials said that efforts are being made to plug the embankment, though continuous water pressure is hampering repair work.
IMD Forecast Raises Alarm
The crisis may deepen further as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall across Odisha over the next three days due to a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal.
An orange alert has been issued for Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts today, while the remaining 28 districts are under a yellow warning. On August 27, the IMD has placed the entire state under yellow alert, with Rayagada, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, and Koraput districts expected to receive very heavy rainfall.
Locals fear that fresh rainfall could worsen the situation in flood-prone areas, including Jajpur, where the Baitarani and its distributaries are already running high.
Agriculture Hit, Villagers Appeal for Relief
Meanwhile, large stretches of standing crops in Jajpur have been submerged, adding to the woes of farmers who are already reeling from repeated flooding this monsoon.
Villagers in the affected panchayats have appealed for immediate relief and rescue operations, citing shortages of drinking water, food, and medical assistance.
