Jajpur/Kendrapara: Major flooding in Brahmani and its tributary Kharasrota River system wreaked havoc inundating several blocks and endangering thousands of people in Jajpur and Kendrapara districts.
Latest reports said as many as 15 gram panchayats including Kimbhirpala, Malda, Atira, Bhurunga have been totally cut off with Bari block being the worst affected in the flood.
Around 30,000 people in 52 GPs of nine blocks including Jajpur, Binjharpur, Rasulpur, Danagadi, Bari are marooned with flooding waters. A total of 112 villages are still inundated. Three people have so far died while around 1600 people have been shifted to safer places, district administration officials said.
The administration has set up six free-kitchens to provide cooked food to the flood victims. Rescue operations are in full fledge with ODRAF, Fire services team undertaking relief and rescue operations.
On the other hand a large embankment breach in Brahmani river at Bankasahi area under Kimphiripala Panchayat has worsened the situation. A rut of nearly five feet ripped apart the embankment on Saturday and turned into a 100 feet wide breach later inundating major chunks of the block in no time.
Nearly, 20,000 to 22,000 people in Jajpur district have been affected by the floods while 1,600 people under Bari block in the district have been worst hit. The district administration has directed the block officials to open free-kitchens to provide cooked food to the flood victims.
On the other hand situation is also grim in Kendrapara where as many as 20 GPs under seven blocks including Patamundai, Aul, Rajkanika have been inundated with flood waters from Brahmani and Kharasrota.
Communication has been cut off between Cuttack and Chandbali, Aul and Patamundai due to inundation of highways by flood water. Similarly Bhuinpur-Singhpur road has also been cut off due to the flood.
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