Flood: Situation grim in Bhadrak & Jajpur, 23 deaths reported

Bhubaneswar: As many as 23 human casualties are reported due to rain and flood in various parts of Odisha till now, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) told OTV today.

Talking on the current rains that lashed parts of Odisha, SRC Pradipta Mohapatra said the flood situation in Salandi and Baitarani rivers caused by heavy rains is grim in Bhadrak and Jajpur districts. Around 50,000 people of three blocks of Jajpur district including Korei, Dasarathpur have been affected by the calamity. As many as 2000 people have been evacuated to high areas, he said.

Cooked food is being served to around 17,000 people in five districts and it will continue till normalcy is restored, he added.

Due to torrential rains in the upper catchment of Mahanadi, 5 lakh cusec of water is entering the reservoir per second. In view of the over loaded water, 24 gates of Hirakud dam will be opened today, Mohapatra stated.

Met sources said, the low pressure which has converted into a deep depression is centred in north Chhattisgarh. Under its influence, heavy rain expected in one or two parts of interior Odisha, Bhubanswar Regional Meteorological Department director Sarat Sahu said. The weather department also predicted rain in both upper and lower catchment of Mahanadi river.