Flood Situation Yet To Improve In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Even though the Odisha government has claimed that there is no threat of flood in the State after the water level in Mahanadi river and its distributaries receded, many areas in Khurda, Cuttack, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts are still waterlogged.

After a sudden increase in the water level of Rajua river yesterday evening, most parts of Orabarasingh panchayat under Khurda block were submerged. As many as ten villages of the block including Hirimula, Orami, Dihakhala, Orabarasingh and Sharadhapur are reeling under flood situation.

More than 10,000 villagers have been affected due to the flood. However, in a brief relief for the villagers, the Khurda administration has made arrangements to provide cooked food to the affected people. Also, a medical team has been sent to the area to provide healthcare facilities.

"Flood water entered our village last evening and we are suffering a lot due to it,” said Gurubari Chhotaray, a flood victim.

Another resident of Hirimula village, Pandaba Mangaraj, said, "Food cannot be cooked as there is knee-deep water inside our houses. Our cattle are also hungry. We want the State government to help us."

After the authorities of Hirakud Dam released floodwater in Mahanadi, many villages under eight panchayats of Tigiria and Banki blocks of Cuttack district have been flooded. Road communication has also been affected as floodwater is flowing above the bridges at different places.

Following two breaches in Karandia river, floodwater has entered Dihabalarampur village under Ayatpur panchayat in Kendrapara district. Flood like situation has also arised in four villages in Kujang-Ramaha area of Jagatsinghpur district.

"We are waterlogged for the past three days. Farmlands are inundated and patients are suffering a lot as water is flowing above roads," said Madhu Mallick, a resident of Banki.

Meanwhile, Water Resources Secretary PK Jena said there is no flood threat now as inflow of water at Hirakud dam has dropped substantially since Thursday.

While 20 of the 64 sluice gates of Hirakud dam were opened on Thursday to release excess water, 10 of them were closed on Friday following substantial fall in the volume of water entering the reservoir and its level, Jena said.

The volume of inflow as well as outflow at the dam was recorded at 1,74,386 cusec at 6 PM, he said.

The water level in Mahanadi stood at 24.82 metre at Naraj in Cuttack as against the danger level of 26.41 metre, while it was 8.45 metre at Alipangal, much below the danger level of 11.76 metre, he added.

Jena said the excess floodwater which was released from Hirakud dam on Thursday will soon pass through Munduli barrage in Cuttack and the situation will be normal.

Joint Relief Commissioner Pravat Mohapatra said, "Though Banki and Damapada block have been waterlogged, slowly water will recede in those areas as less water is being released from Hirakud dam."

(With Agency Inputs)