Bhubaneswar: Several rivers in Odisha continue to flow above or near danger levels on Monday, leading to widespread inundation of villages, agricultural land and roads in Bhadrak, Baleshwar, Jajpur, Kendujhar and Kendrapada districts.
In Baleshwar district, the Subarnarekha river, which had stabilised around 4 am, began rising again after 6 am. Though it remains below the danger mark, floodwater continues to surround several villages. Roads, residential areas and thousands of hectares of farmland have been submerged. In some places, people are using boats for movement. More than 30 villages across eight panchayats in Baliapal block remain under water, according to reports.
The Jalaka river is flowing above the danger level at Mathani. Against the danger mark of 5.50 metres, the water level stood at 6.52 metres at 6 am. The rising river has affected over 100 villages and large tracts of farmland across 10 panchayats in Basta block and two panchayats in Baleshwar Sadar block. Although the water level in Basta is slowly receding, the hardship of residents continues. Water has entered nearly 100 houses in Basuchakurai panchayat making cooking impossible, while vast stretches of farmland have been damaged. On the other hand, heavy discharge from the Devagiri hills has forced the closure of Panchalingeswar Peeth, where four priests and staff remain stranded.
The Budhabalanga river is also rising and approaching the warning level. On Sunday, all three major rivers in Baleshwar had been flowing below their respective danger marks.
In Bhadrak district, the Salandi river crossed the danger mark at Rajghat. Against the danger level of 17 feet, the water level was recorded at 17.70 feet at 6 am. Low-lying areas have been flooded, and around four feet of water is flowing over the Rajamukundapur and Matagajpur bridges, disrupting connectivity.
Both the Baitarani and Salandi rivers are flowing above the danger mark near Akhuapada in Bhadrak, inundating several areas of Bhandaripokhari and Dhamnagar blocks.
Road connectivity to the famous Akhandalamani Peeth has been cut off due to water flowing over the roads. As it is Shravan Monday, devotees and locals are risking travel through water channels.
The Baitarani river crossed the danger mark at Patna in Kendujhar district following heavy rainfall. The water level reached 311.22 metres against the danger mark of 311.10 metres, flooding low-lying areas and causing waterlogging on local roads. Residents living near the riverbanks have been advised to remain alert.
Floodwaters from the Baitarani have left 50 panchayats in Bhadrak and Jajpur districts waterlogged. While the danger level of the Baitarani is 18.33 metres, the current water level stands at 18.06 metres.
The situation is also critical in western and central Odisha. In Sundargarh district, 17 families have been marooned and have taken shelter on the road.
In Dhenkanal’s Kamakhyanagar, more than 60 cattle stranded on an island in the Brahmani river have been rescued.Rescue and relief operations are continuing intensively across the state as authorities monitor the rising water levels.
