Balasore: Threats of fresh flood looms large in Odisha’s Balasore district as the water level in the Jalaka River continues to rise above the danger mark due to heavy rains in the district.
People residing on the banks of Jalaka River are panicked as the water level in the river in neighbouring Mayurbhanj district, especially in Rasgobindpur, Morada, Shulwanpada, and Chitada, has crossed the danger level. In Mathani under Basta block of Balasore district, the water was flowing at 6.22 meters against the danger level of 6 meters at 6.00 am on Thursday. Weak embankments at various places have added to the woes of the people living on the banks.
Heavy rains in neighbouring Mayurbhanj district for the last two days have worsened the situation. The water level in the upper reaches of the Jalka River in Rasgobindpur, Morada, Shulwanpada, and Chitada in Mayurbhanj district are gradually increasing due to heavy rains induced by a low pressure in the Bay of Bengal. The water level of the river was 6.50 meters in Mathani against the danger level of 6.0 meters today.
If the rain continues, the water level will rise further triggering a flood. Earlier this month, floods in the Jalaka River inundated 10 panchayats of Basta block and destroyed standing crops more than a thousand hectares. The farmers, who are already devastated due to the flood, are spending sleepless nights.
The Galudih Barrage in Jharkhand has released 2,022 cusecs of flood water causing the water level in the Subarnarekha River to swell. This is the second time this year when there is a threat of flood in the Subarnarekha River due to heavy rains in the upper reaches of the river in Jharkhand. The Central Water Commission (CWC) has informed that the flood water was released at 10.00 am on Thursday. The storage capacity of the Galudih Barrage is up to 94.5 meters, but the current water level in the barrage is 101.25 meters.
