Bhubaneswar: A 30-foot breach in the Kani River, a tributary of the Baitarani River, has unleashed floodwaters into the low-lying areas of Jajpur district in Odisha adding woes to residents of nearby villages.
According to reports, a 30-foot-wide breach opened near the Muslim Sahi dargah close to Ahiyas-Kaspa under the Dasarathpur block at around 4:50 am, due to overnight downpour. As a result, several villages have been inundated under the block.
The relentless rainfall over the past few days has swollen the river, leading to a rise in water levels in its tributaries. The breach, which opened in the wee hours of Monday, has allowed floodwaters to pour into the surrounding areas, affecting panchayats such as Ahiyas, Mallikapur, Kaspa, and Mahanti Patana.
The situation is grim, with many homes and fields submerged under water. The breach rapidly expanded within hours, according to locals, swiftly engulfing farmlands and posing a looming threat to more habitations downstream.
Besides, the floodwaters have also disrupted communication, cutting off the main road in Similia panchayat under Jajpur block.
Meanwhile, the swollen Baitarani River has overflowed its banks, with floodwaters deluging several panchayats and exacerbating the distress of the local population, who are struggling to cope with the devastating aftermath.
