Now Jharkhand adds to Odisha floods, opens barrage to make Subarnarekha swell

Adding more suffering to a flood-ravaged State, the Odisha government on Saturday night warned of a high flood in the Subarnarekha river system.

As per reports, it is now the Jharkhand which has to be blamed again for a sudden rise in Subarnarekha river. Following heavy rains in the upper catchment areas of the river in the neighboring state, the Jharkhand government had to open the Galudih barrage releasing flood water into Odisha.

Informing the same, the Odisha Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Pradeep Jena tweeted, “Galudih barrage in Jharkhand released 9473cumec =3.5lakh cusec through 14gates at 8pm. We will see a high flood in Subarnarekha system.”

As the warning was issued, the Collectors of Balasore and Mayurbhanj have been alerted.

“2 NDRF teams, 2 ODRAF teams, and 8 fire services teams have been rushed to Balasore district,” informed Jena.

Galudih barrage in Jharkhand released 9473cumec =3.5lakh cusec thru 14gates at 8pm. We will see a high flood in Subarnarekha system. @DBalasore @DM_Mayurbhanj alerted. Addl 2ndrf, 2 ODRAF, & 8 Fire Services teams being rushed to Balasore Dist.@SRC_Odisha @CMO_Odisha @IPR_Odisha

— Pradeep Jena IAS (@PradeepJenaIAS) August 20, 2022

As the deep depression induced lashed North and North-West Odisha, the water level in Budhabalanga is also on a rising trend and it may cross the danger mark by 9 am tomorrow, August 21.

The Engineer-in-Chief of Water Resources Department said that Baitarani and Bansadhara are flowing above the danger mark at Anandapur and Kashinagar respectively, and, excess water is currently being discharged through four gates of Hirakud Dam.

River Jalaka is flowing (6.80 m) over the danger mark (5.5 m) near Mathani in Jaleswar. As the flood water is currently flowing 3 ft over the bridge at Katipol marooning as many as five villages.