Balasore: The flood situation in Odisha’s Balasore district continues to be grim as Subarnarekha River flowed above the danger level and many villages remained marooned. Although there has been no rain, there was no improvement in the flood situation as more water was released from the Galudih barrage in Jharkhand.
The water level in Subarnarekha, which has been flowing above the danger level for the last three days after depression-induced heavy rainfall, is, however, on a receding trend. The present water level at Rajghat was at 10.58 metres against the danger level of 10.36 metres.
Water Resources Department chief engineer Chandrasekhar Padhi said drainage of water from flood-affected villages has increased. “We hope water will recede from the villages in the next 24 hours,” Padhi said.
Jalaka River was also flowing close to the danger mark but water level was in a falling trend, the official said.
Meanwhile, the Balasore district administration has so far evacuated 21,076 people to safer places and provided them with shelter. Many villages have been marooned for the last three days, with boats being the only mode of communication, another official said.
Around 35,654 people from 141 villages in five blocks of Baliapal, Basta, Bhograi, Jaleswar and Balasore Sadar have been affected by the floods. “The evacuated people were being fed at 51 relief centres across Balasore district,” an official release of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) office said. Twenty-one rescue teams, including six from ODRAF, one from NDRF and 14 from fire services, have been deployed in the five blocks for rescue and relief operations.
