JAJPUR: As the rain almost stopped, swelling rivers started subsiding in the district, but lakhs of people remained out of reach as flood water did not recede from the low lying areas on Thursday.
On Wednesday, embankments of Brahmani and Kharasrota breached at six places. While four breaches occurred in Brahmani right embankment near Matapedia, Chandanpur, Rampur and Poisahi under Bari block, the banks of Kharasrota river breached at Bhanara and Raipada.
Earlier, Baitarani embankment breached near Patapur under Dasarathpur block in the district. In total, eight breaches occurred in Baitarani, Brahmani and Kharasrota embankments, all measuring 100 to 200 feet. Over one lakh people of Bari block in the district remained cut off from the mainstream due to six breaches at different places in the areas.
There was no communication to Bari either from Baruan or Brahmabarada and Gopalpur on NH-5(A) as flood water of five to six feet high was flowing over connecting roads since Wednesday morning. The main linkage to Bari, 15 km long Baruan-Bari road is under water of both Brahmani and Kharasrota.
According to official reports, over five lakh people of 533 villages under eight blocks and three Wards of Jajpur Municipality have been affected by the flood. Dasarathpur and Bari blocks are the worst hit. Similarly, 41,752 hectares of agricultural land have been damaged. While around 20,000 people were evacuated to safer places, 40 free kitchens have been opened.