Riverbank erosion near Baitarani sparks alarm in Odisha’s Jajpur, poses threat to flood embankment

In a concerning development, a significant section of the Baitarani riverbank at Nuapatna near the Nizampur area of Jajpur district collapsed on Sunday, reportedly due to strong water currents.

The erosion, which has affected more than 10 feet of the riverbank, has triggered concern over the safety of a nearby flood embankment and is now being closely monitored by state authorities.

Sources reported that following the collapse, officials from the Water Resources and Works Departments, along with Dasarathpur block administration, rushed to the site late at night to assess the extent of the damage and initiate emergency containment measures.

Collapse Near New Bridge and Island Structure Accelerates Threat

The affected location lies near a recently constructed bridge by the Works Department. Officials observed that water pressure around a jetty and a nearby island formation in the river’s midstream appears to have intensified the backflow and lateral pressure on the riverbank.

As a result, the soil along the edge has been rapidly washed away, with visible signs of active collapse.

The soft composition of the river island and rising water levels have likely contributed to destabilising the adjacent bank, compounding the risk to the flood protection embankment situated close by, stated sources citing officials.

Sandbagging Efforts Underway Amid Risk to Embankment

In response to the threat, sandbags are being placed along the eroded stretch to prevent further soil loss. Engineers from the Water Resources Department are also evaluating options for long-term protection, including structural reinforcements to secure the embankment before the river current intensifies further.

Meanwhile, district officials have confirmed that no breach has occurred yet but warned that continued erosion could compromise the embankment’s integrity, especially if water flow increases upstream.