Bhubaneswar: While Odisha continues to grapple with acute deluge in several districts following several days of incessant rainfall under the influence of one-after other low pressure systems on Bay of Bengal, the State government however on Friday said there is no need to panic as almost all the river embankments are secure.
State Water Resources Dept chief engineer Jyotirmaya Rath explained that though several rivers including Jalaka, Baitarani are swelling after heavy rainfall, most of their embankments are high and strong enough to ensure that there are no chances of flood as of now.
In case of Baitarani, the water level was above 17.85 metre as against the danger mark of 17.83 in the morning today however, embankments of the river is much high so flood chances are slim," said Rath.
Inflow of water per second into Hirakud Dam is 2.85 lakh cubic feet while outflow remains at 2.33 lakh cubic feet, he said.
As far as the Malkangiri is concerned, Rath informed that the southern Odisha district is grappling with water-inundation and communication disruption after relentless spells of rain.
"Most bridges in Malkangiri are at low level and so there seems to be severe situation of inundation. Flash-flood like situation after heavy rainfall has damaged several service roads but apart from that there is no substantial damage," Rath added.
As per reports, the low lying areas under Motu block have been flooded. Swelling in almost all the rivers in Malkangiri has cut communication and road networks in the district.
Communication between Kalimela and Padia has been disrupted after flood water ran over the bridge near Kanyashram. Trees were also seen being uprooted on National Highway-326.
Similarly, water is flowing over many places of the road connecting Poteru, Kankarkonda and MV-90. Communication between Chhattisgarh has also been cut off following submergence of road near Khaprakhol.
In Bhadrak, red alert has been issued in view of the rising water level in Baitarani river. In fact, the people of Bhandaripokhari and Dhamnagar blocks are already grappling with the rise in water level of the river 0.44 metres every hour.
An approach road over Baitarani river at Bodak under Chandbali block has reportedly collapsed including a 90 feet long stone walled river embankment on Aradi-Jajpur main road.
Speaking on the collapse, Subhasmita Das, Junior Engineer of National Highway Authority in Jajpur said, “The repair works are on and we will soon bring back normalcy on road.”
Similarly, Sundergarh has also faced the brunt of flash-flood as a temporary bridge over National Highway-215 near Narayanposh Command got washed away on Thursday night cutting off communication between Kalta and Koida. The district administration meanwhile has already begun the repair works of the road.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)
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