Baitarani, Subarnarekha rivers cross danger mark, floods hit Balasore, Bhadrak

Flooding has been reported in several parts of Balasore and Bhadrak districts after the Baitarani and Subarnarekha rivers crossed their danger levels on Monday.

At Akhuapada, the Baitarani, which has a danger mark of 18.33 metres, was flowing at 18.63 metres. Similarly, at Rajghat, the Subarnarekha river, with a danger level of 10.36 metres, was recorded at 10.72 metres around 10 a.m.

Officials said the water levels in both rivers are likely to recede below the danger mark by Tuesday, bringing some relief to the flood-hit areas.

Continuous Rainfall Keeps Subarnarekha On The Rise

However, due to continuous rainfall at Jamsolaghat, the Subarnarekha is expected to rise again after reaching the projected 10.4 metres.

Breach In Kani River And Dam Management

A 30-metre breach has developed in the Kani river, with repair work set to begin once water levels recede. Meanwhile, floodwaters continue to be released from major reservoirs. At the Hirakud Dam, 12 gates have been opened, with 2.11 lakh cusecs of water entering the reservoir and 2.22 lakh cusecs being discharged. At Rengali Dam, two gates are currently open, and authorities have indicated that an additional gate may be opened if required, as the reservoir is now nearly 96% full. 

Rainfall Update

On Sunday, the Subarnarekha river recorded 17.63 mm of rainfall. As no other areas reported more than 10 mm, no other rivers are currently experiencing floods.

Areas Affected

The swelling Subarnarekha has affected Bhograi, Basta, and Baliapal areas in Balasore district, while the Baitarani has impacted Jajpur block, Dasarathpur, and Dhamnagar in Bhadrak district.

Official Statement

Chandra Shekhar Padhi, EIC of the Water Resources Department, stated that both the Baitarani River at Akhuapada and the Subarnarekha River at Rajghat are currently flowing above danger levels. He noted that the water level in the Baitarani is gradually receding and is expected to fall below the danger mark soon.

“In the Subarnarekha, water levels are projected to recede to around 10.4 metres between 11 p.m. and midnight. Meanwhile, 12 gates have been opened at the Hirakud Dam to release excess water, and at the Rengali Dam, two gates remain open with a third on standby if needed,” he said.