TV
Even though rainfall has subsided in Odisha, the flood misery shows no sign of easing in Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur districts, where thousands of people continue to suffer amid rising waters and devastation to farmland.
In Balasore, the Subarnarekha river has once again unleashed fresh floods, throwing life and livelihood out of gear. Floodwaters have submerged villages, roads, houses, and farmlands.
According to estimates, over 10,000 hectares of paddy fields have got destroyed, raising fears of a severe agricultural setback. In areas where the water has begun to recede, heartbreaking scenes of devastation, damaged homes, ruined crops, and stranded families, have left locals in despair.
The situation is equally grim in Bhadrak, where floodwaters of the Baitarani river are slowly receding but the plight of people remains unrelenting. Farmers, in particular, have suffered heavy losses as not only paddy but also vegetable crops have been washed away.
"All our hopes are drowned. We don’t know how to recover from this loss," said a distressed farmer.
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In Jajpur, the fury of nature has been felt with equal intensity. A breach in the Kani river embankment at Dasarathpur has inundated hundreds of houses. Rising waters have forced villagers to flee to higher ground. Over 6,000 people have been evacuated to safer shelters as water levels continue to pose a threat.
Though the rain has eased, the scale of devastation and human suffering across the three districts highlights the long road to recovery for the affected people. Relief and rehabilitation remain the immediate needs as farmers and families grapple with the aftermath of the floods.
