No meals cooked, stranded on roofs: Bhadrak's flood-hit speak of silent suffering

The water level of the Baitarani River at Akhuapada in Bhadrak district is receding on Sunday. However, low-lying areas remain inundated, and people residing in the areas are suffering for food and shelter.

In Dhamnagar block, floodwaters have entered houses in several areas, causing severe waterlogging. Floodwaters have entered villages under Hasanabad, Astaka, Arjunpur, and Padhani panchayats under the Dhamnagar block. 

As a result, residents are facing serious hardship due to waterlogging. The sudden rise in water levels during the night has disrupted communication and transportation in the affected areas. Though the water level is receding in the upper catchment area, people in the low-lying areas are suffering due to waterlogging.

"The water level was low during the evening. However, it rose suddenly at night, and the low-lying areas were soon inundated. As a result, we are facing lots of problems. Water has entered our houses and we are not able to cook our meals. We were not prepared for this kind of situation. Our utensils have been washed away," said a woman of Arjunpur Panchayat.

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"We are facing a very difficult situation arising out of the flood. As the whole village has been inundated and water has entered our houses, most of the people are taking shelter on rooftops and flood shelter centres and taking dry food like flattened rice," said another resident.

"The administration is yet to reach with relief materials. We are hopeful that we will soon be helped with dry food and other relief materials," said another resident in the area.