9.40 Lakh hit by Odisha floods as heavy rain continues

Depression-induced heavy rainfall has worsened flooding in northern Odisha, affecting 9.40 lakh people. The state has evacuated 3.30 lakh residents and deployed rescue teams. Rising river levels may worsen flooding in Balasore, while IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall

Bhubaneswar: The depression-induced heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours has worsened the flood situation in Odisha’s northern districts on Tuesday as the water level of many rivers are rising, officials said.

After visiting the marooned villages in Jajpur and Bhadrak districts, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi held a high-level review meeting on the prevailing situation and discussed the immediate steps needed to be taken, as 9.40 lakh people are affected by the floods.

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The CM said 3.30 lakh affected people have been evacuated by the state government. Though the depression that formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal has moved over Jharkhand and adjoining northern parts of Gangetic West Bengal, the IMD has forecast that very heavy rainfall may persist in parts of Odisha on Tuesday.

The IMD issued an ‘orange warning’ (be prepared to take action) of heavy to very heavy rainfall in places in the districts of Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Baragada. It also issued a ‘yellow warning’ (be aware) of heavy rainfall in the districts of Sambalpur, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Subarnapur, Bolangir.

It also forecast thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and gusty surface wind speeds reaching up to 30-40 kmph, likely over the districts of Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Baragarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Subarnapur and Bolangir. As the sea condition is likely to be rough along and off the Odisha Coast, the IMD advised fishermen not to venture into the sea on August 18.

According to the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Bahalda in Mayurbhanj district registered a staggering 273 mm of rainfall over the past 24 hours, while Rairangpur recorded 207 mm. Balasore received 93.1 mm of rainfall.

Water Resources Department Engineer-in-Chief Dillip Kumar Rout said the water level in rivers Baitarani and Brahmani, which caused floods in the districts of Jajpur, Bhadrak and Kendrapara, was static, but is likely to swell due to heavy rainfall in Sundergarh and Jharsuguda districts.

Similarly, Rout said there is a possibility of a rise in water level in the Subarnarekha due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas of Jharkhand. The flood water of Subarnarekha could inundate several blocks like Basta, Baliapal and Jaleswar in Balasore district. “The excess flood water discharged by Jharkhand is likely to reach Balasore on Wednesday,” Rout said.

Rout ruled out the possibility of a flood in the Mahanadi river system as experts estimate that around 4 lakh cusec of water is likely to flow at Mundali near Cuttack after discharge of water through 10 gates at Hirakud dam. The present water level at Hirakud stands at 619. 97 feet against the full reservoir level of 630 ft.

The state government has meanwhile geared up relief and rescue operations in the affected districts. Altogether 45 teams of ODRAF, eight NDRF teams, and 53 fire service units were deployed in the affected areas.