Thousands marooned in Odisha as Mahanadi basin floods; Brahmani & Baitarani breach danger marks

Thousands of people were marooned across Odisha as the Mahanadi river basin flooded on Friday following relentless rain in the upper catchment areas for the last few days.

As per sources, around 8.6 lakh cusecs of water is flowing at Mundali this morning. While the water level is currently 92.60 ft in upstream, it is 90.30 ft in downstream. In a little respite, the water level has been receding since 11pm last night.

The Mahanadi and its tributaries have swelled and as a result, many villages in Banki and Athagarh have been inundated. Several areas in Nayagarh, Boudh and Sonepur have also been waterlogged. It is also expected that the floodwater will inundate many more low-lying villages in Puri, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur. Hundreds of acres of paddy fields in nine gram panchayats of Banki and Tigiria blocks have been submerged in the floodwater. Moreover, many roads and bridges have also been submerged in Nayagarh district.

Villagers of Sukhuakhala have been completely inundated and cut off from the main land. They have left their villages and taken shelter along with their domestic animals on the embankment. However, the administration has not reportedly extended any help to the affected villagers.

As per reports, a 20 ft breach occurred in Mahanadi near Teramanpur under Kujanga block and as a result, Kotasahi village have been completely inundated in the floodwater.

Meanwhile, Brahmani and Baitarani rivers have breached the danger marks at many places in Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur and Bhadrak. Many villages, temples, religious places and educational institutions have been waterlogged due to the overflowing floodwater.

People in the waterlogged villages are in a state of panic. They are facing a lot of trouble to arrange food and drinking water for them.

Though water level has receded a little bit in Baitarani river, Brahmani river is still in spate. The State government has ordered the Collectors of all the districts to remain in full preparedness to meet any kind of eventualities arising out of the flood situation.

At least 106 rescue teams are fully ready to carry out rescue and evacuation measures in 13 districts. As many as 13 ODRAF and 85 fire services teams have been deployed in the flood-affected areas. The overflowing floodwater has reportedly done extensive damage to vegetable cultivation on acres of land in Cuttack, Banki, Athagarh, Khordha and Balipatana.