Odisha Floods: 2.4 lk people affected, 2 dead

With the upper catchment areas of river Baitarani and Subarnarekha receiving heavy rains during the last 24 hours due to a depression in the Bay of Bengal, the Odisha government today put at least six coastal and northern districts on alert.

Most of the people evacuated yesterday have returned to their homes, except 250 persons residing in a relief camp in Balasore district, he said, adding 158 quintals of flattened rice and 15.6 quintals of molasses were distributed among the affected people in the districts of Balasore and Mayurbhanj. A breach in the river embankment of Subarnarekha at Dahamunda village in Balasore district caused flood in some villages, Jena said, adding, another breach in the embankment of Baitarani river near Ganeswarpur in Jajpur district had also inundated some areas.

Talking to the media, Jajpur collector Satya Kumar Mallick said there is a possibility that Dasrathpur and Jajpur blocks would be affected by the flood.

While NDRF team has already been deployed in Balasore, the CM has ordered to dispatch ODRAF team to Jajpur district. According to the evening flood bulletin of the water sources department, water level in major rivers, including Kishabhadra, Devi, Bharmani, Baitarani and Burabalanga, was rising.

Asked about the breaches on river embankments, Sarma said two breaches occurred on the Baitarani – one in Jajpur district and the other in Bhadrak district. Meanwhile, floodwaters from the Budhabalanga river entered Baripada town on Tuesday following heavy rain.

Briefing the media in Bhubaneswar, Water Resources secretary PK Jena said the first floodwaters would be released through the Rengali dam at any time tomorrow. “The administration is ready to tackle any situation”, said collector (Mayurbhanj) Rajesh Patil. “People of Angul, Jajpur, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar have been asked to remain alert”, he said.