Bhubaneswar: The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Rajesh Prabhakar Patil on Thursday informed that the flood situation in Odisha is gradually improving, with water levels in most rivers except Subarnarekha showing a declining trend.
Briefing the mediapersons, SRC stated that six districts covering 34 blocks have been affected by the floods, impacting around 12.87 lakh people. However, more than 87,000 people have been shifted to safer locations, and food is being provided at 185 relief centres. Among the affected districts, Balasore has seen 28,000 people impacted, Bhadrak 1.90 lakh, and Jajpur 31,000.
He further informed that the flood situation in Bhadrak and Jajpur is improving, with water levels expected to drop further over the next 12 hours. ODRAF and NDRF teams remain engaged in rescue and relief operations. Repairs are currently underway on the breaches that occurred in the Baitarani and Salandi embankments.
The SRC stated that it may take another three days for the floodwaters to recede completely. Several major rivers in the state are now flowing below their respective danger levels. The Budhabalanga river at NH-5 is currently at 5.76 metres, well below its danger mark of 8.13 metres. Similarly, the Jalaka river is flowing at 6.28 metres against its danger level of 6.50 metres, while the Brahmani at Jenapur stands at 21.38 metres, significantly lower than its danger mark of 23 metres. Also, Baitarani at Akhuapada is flowing at 17.98 metres against the danger mark of 18.33 metres.
He stated that the Subarnarekha at Rajghat, which had risen to 11.82 metres at 3 am against the danger mark of 10.36 metres, remains a cause of concern in Balasore district. However, the Subarnarekha continues to flow above the danger mark even as its level has started receding slowly after peaking at 3 am.
