TV
Coastal villages of Jagatsinghpur district are once again reeling under the fury of the sea, with tidal waters breaching embankments and inundating homes and farmlands near Ramtara. The advancing sea has reportedly encroached nearly 700 meters inland, flooding residential areas and agricultural fields with saltwater.
Villages such as Ramtara, Padmapur, Shiali, and Kalabedi have been hit hard, leaving residents distressed over repeated sea incursions. Farmers say their fields are submerged, threatening both livelihoods and food security.
This marks the third major sea breach in just four months in the region, underscoring the vulnerability of these coastal villages. Earlier surges had also damaged infrastructure, including the collapse of a watch tower near Shiali.
Local residents have repeatedly demanded permanent measures to protect their villages from sea intrusion. Although the Odisha government has prepared a DPR for a Tsunami wall in the region, no significant action has been taken so far. Meanwhile, dissatisfaction and anxiety continue to grow among the affected communities.
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Worth mentioning, due to its close proximity to the Bay of Bengal, Odisha has been facing severe impacts of climate change, including frequent and destructive tropical cyclones, a rise in lightning incidents, erratic rainfall patterns, and ongoing coastal erosion.
Vast coastal areas in Jagatsinghpur are increasingly vulnerable to flooding and submersion as a result of accelerating shoreline erosion, a local intelligentsia opined.
