Amid flood-like situation in Balasore, water enters over 250 villages; situation grim in Mayurbhanj

Incessant downpour under the influence of the deep depression over Bay of Bengal has triggered a flood-like situation in Balasore and Mayurbhanj throwing normal life out of gear.

The Odisha government on Tuesday put the Balasore district administration on high flood alert after water of river Subarnarekha entered over 250 villages in five block areas.

The residents of Baliapal, Bhograi, Jaleswar, Basta and Sadar blocks have been adversely affected as water from Subarnarekha River entered the villages snapping the road connectivity with the rest of the world. 

While thousands of acres of agriculture land marooned, villagers rely on boats to fetch necessary household essentials. 

The local administration has so far evacuated over 400 people to safer places after flood water entered low-lying areas in the five blocks.

According to a preliminary assessment, 264 villages in 56 gram panchayat and 17 wards in Jaleswar municipality have been affected by the flood.

The coastal district, through which Subarnarekha, Budhabalang and Jalaka rivers flow, is facing a flood situation due to the heavy rainfall for the last four days.

Attending the review meeting chaired by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Balasore District Collector Suryawanshi Mayur Vikas said that while the water level of Subarnarekha river was rising, it was receding in Budhabalang and Jalaka rivers.

The Minister directed the district authorities to evacuate people well in advance depending upon the situation. "Cooked food should be provided to the evacuated people and the Collector should remain on high alert for the next 48 hours," the Minister said.

The office of the special relief commissioner said that considering the present scenario as well as the forecast of the Central Water Commission (CWC), the water level in the Subarnarekha river may cross 10.95 metres causing a flood situation in Balasore district, especially in the Basta, Bhograi and Baliapal blocks.

Neighbouring Mayurbhanj district is also facing flood threat as the area received heavy rainfall during the last three days.

The field officers and response forces are in place in Badasahi, Betonati, Rashgovindpur and Saraskana blocks of Mayurbhanj, an official said adding that the administration has started evacuation of people from low-lying areas.

The Minister said that Balasore and Mayurbhanj have received significant rainfall, whereas Jajpur and Bhadrak districts also received good amount of rainfall in the last four days, leading to rise in water level of several rivers in northern Odisha. 

(With PTI Inputs)