BALASORE: Fresh flood in river Subarnarekha affected 50 villages in Bhogarai and Baliapal blocks on Tuesday. The river is in spate since Monday night following release of water from Galuridihi barrage in Jharkhand.
The river went on rising at 0.2 metre per hour crossing the danger level for the second time in last five days.
Though the water is now receding, it stood at 10.06 metre till last report came in. The barrage that was releasing 1.27 lakh cusec water has closed its gates on the request of the local administration.
It has hit more than 50,000 people in two blocks for second time. Flood water entered Kharidpipal, Nachinda, Kusuda, Rasalpur, Putina, Jayrampur panchayats in Bhogarai block and Nikhira, Asti, Baliapal, Bishnupur, Madhupura, Jamkunda panchayats in Baliapal block forcing the villagers to take refuge in cyclone shelters and school buildings on highland.
Vehicular communication in the interior areas of these blocks has been affected as flood water was flowing three feet above the roads connecting Nachinda-Uluda, Kumbhiragadi-Bhusandheswar, Bhogarai-Manunagar, Jamkunda-Talapada, Pancharukhi-Choudharikud, Jamkunda-Nayabali, Kulhachad-Ekadpal, Baliapal-Sungamuhan, Bishnupur-Nayabali and Parulia-Champei.
In the last week’s flood, 271 villages under 32 panchayats of Bhogarai block were affected. The villagers alleged that even as they were affected by flash floods twice within a short span of time, they were yet to receive any relief from the administration.
Balasore Collector Aravind Agrawal has visited Bhogarai block and asked the block officials to distribute relief as per the State Relief Code. BDO Somanath Pradhan, however, said dry food has been stocked at strategic locations in the block and will be distributed if situation warrants. “Though the flood water has entered some villages, it is yet to affect the houses,” he said.
Paddy and vegetable crops in thousands of acres in both the blocks are under water. Four power boats and one team of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have arrived at Baliapal for rescue and relief operations.
Meanwhile, northern parts of the district have experienced heavy rainfall. The district has received a total 153.2 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours. While Bhogarai recorded 34.2 mm rainfall, Remuna registered 29 mm followed by Baliapal 10 mm.