BHUBANESWAR: Heavy downpour triggered by Cyclone Phailin today led to floods in several rivers in Odisha, with the state government describing the situation in Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts as “critical”.
Relief and rescue operations have been launched in the affected areas.
“The situation due to floods caused by cyclone induced rainfall is critical in Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts where major rivers like Budhabalanga and Subarnarekha are in spate following sudden inflow of water,” Special Relief Commissioner P K Mohapatra said.
Though water level in rivers in Bhadrak also rose menacingly following heavy rains, the situation in the district is now under control, he said.
Describing the situation grim especially in Balasore, the official said water level in Budhabalanga has risen to 9.24 meters against the red mark of 8.13 at Gobindpur near NH-5.
Similarly, Subarnarekha was now flowing at 11.7 meters against the danger level of 10.36 meter at Rajghat near Jaleswar, he said, adding 39 panchayats in four blocks of Balasore were under the grip of flood.
Steps have been taken for air-dropping of food packets in flood-hit areas of Balasore where NDRF had been deployed, while water level in rivers in Mayurbhanj has started receding, Mohapatra said.
It is apprehended that river Budhabalanga might further rise in Balasore in view of heavy rains in the catchment areas, officials said.
Similarly, River Jalaka was flowing at 6.73 meters against its danger level of 5.50 at Basta. Small rivers like Sona, Gangahar, Kansa and Bausa were also in spate in Balasore district, they said. . The flood water of Buddhabalang had entered many low-lying areas of Balasore Sadar and Remuna blocks near here while several places under Baliapal and Bhograi were affected by the water from river Subarnarekha.
Flood water from river Jalaka had entered many villages under Basta block. Roads between Basta and Baliapal and Balasore and Jaleswar were submerged with flood water with over 3 feet water flowing on the roads and the places remained cut off.
Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Orissa Disaster Response Action Force (ODRAF) had arrived in the areas for carrying out rescue operation, they said.
Flood’s fury also loomed large over Ganjam, worst hit due to the cyclone ‘Phailin’ left the district with a trail of devastation.
Rivers Rushikulya and Badanadi had crossed danger level at Aska, 40 km from here, this morning though there is no report of any loss but even as engineers of the state water resources department are keeping a watch on the situation.
“The water level of both the rivers is likely to recede by this evening,” said chief engineer-cum-basin manager of Rushikulya, Bansadhara and Nagabali rivers R N Swain.
Now Badanadi was flowing at 36.15 meer at Aska against its danger level 35.42 meter while Rushikulay’s level at Aska stood at 34.75 met against it danger level 33.85 meter.
Rushikulay was now flowing at near danger level at Sorada at 81.33 meter against danger level of 81.99 while at Purushottampur it flows at 17.150 meters against the danger level of 16.83 meters.
Similarly, Badanadai was flowing at near danger level at Madhabarida at 60.04 against danger level of 60.65 while Bansadhara at Kasinagar in adjoining Gajapati district is flowing at 54.25 meter against danger level of 54.60 meter.
The Badanadi had caused two breaches at Gujarari and Ratnagiri near Sorisamul barrage. Almost all the reservoirs in the district are now full with Flood Reserve Level (FRL), he said, adding the Bhanganagar reservoir was now discharge 7.77 cubic meter of while Daha reservoir at Bhanjanagar was discharging 21.85 cubic meter of water. -PTI
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