TV
The Subarnarekha river has triggered its fifth flood this year, inundating wide swathes of Balasore district and leaving hundreds of villages cut off.
Large stretches of Baliapal, Jaleswar and Bhograi blocks are under water, with thousands of hectares of standing crops washed away. Farmers, already battered by repeated inundations, said the latest deluge has destroyed season-long investments and fodder stocks.
In Baliapal block, more than 40 villages across 8 panchayats are submerged. Jaleswar has 30 villages in 6 panchayats marooned while Bhograi reports over 50 villages in 9 panchayats waterlogged. On several stretches, floodwater up to three feet is flowing over roads, snapping road links and isolating habitations.
Residents report shortages of essentials and rising losses of livestock as shelter space shrinks. The Balasore District Collector and the RDC visited ground zero to review the situation and assess relief and restoration needs, officials said.
“Though the Subarnarekha river is flowing below the danger mark, there is a lot of water. We are now distributing dry ration and focusing on transportation facility,” said Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, RDC Central Range.
“Around 80-90 villages under Baliapal and Bhograi have been affected. All the officials of the district administration have been deployed in the affected villages,” said Suryawanshi Mayur Vikas, Balasore collector.
