JAJPUR: Flood situation in Jajpur further worsened on Wednesday with six more breaches occurring in embankments of Brahmani and Kharasrota rivers at six different places in Bari. In the evening, another breach occurred in Baitarani embankment at Dasarathpur.
In fact at Dasarathpur, the worst affected block of the district, flood water of the two rivers entered 13 panchayats affecting 60,000 people of about 41 villages on Wednesday noon.
While four breaches occurred in Brahmani right embankment near Matiapada and Chandanpur on Wednesday morning, two occurred in Kharasrota embankments at Bhanara and Raipada. All the breaches have been measured between 60 and 100 feet, officials said.
Flood in Baitarani has already affected over 1.5 lakh people in three blocks of the district. Besides, thousands of people in many villages of Barachana block have been affected by the floods in Mahanadi.
People in many areas alleged that they were yet to get relief and are without drinking water and electricity for three days now. “We are facing acute drinking water problem in our village as all the water bodies are flooded. Even standposts are under water,” said Keshab Das of Malikapur village.
Thousands of people in Dasarathpur are still encircled by the flood water and have taken shelter on the roof-tops or high lands. Rescue teams have not reached them yet.
According to official sources, 3.5 lakh people of 264 villages in seven blocks of the district have been affected by floods in Baitarani, Brahmani and its tributaries Kharasrota, Tantighai, Kelua, Genguti, Gobari and Budha. Both Baitarani and Brahmani are flowing above the danger mark.
While Baitarani is flowing at 19.81 metre against its danger mark of 17.83 metre at Akhuapada, Brahmani is flowing at 69 feet against its red mark of 67 feet at Jenapur, as on Wednesday evening. According to official reports, while water level of Brahmani is rising, Baitarani was stable.