BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Saturday rushed Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) for rescue operations as new areas in Jajpur, Kendrapara and Dhenkanal districts were inundated by flood waters.
Even as the flood situation remained unchanged in Balasore district, waters of Brahmani and Kharasrota rivers have marooned as many as 26 villages in Bari, Danagadi, Rasulpur and Binjharpur blocks. Over 8000 people in 17 villages under five panchayats of Bari have been marooned following 150 feet breach in Brahmani embankment at Bankasahi of Kimbhiriapal panchayat.
Official sources said about 130 villages in flood-hit districts have been inundated in the floods which have affected over 1.5 lakh people. Several blocks were inundated as water level in Brahmani and Kharasrota rivers rose after the sluice gates of Rengali reservoir were opened.
Flood water entered several villages in Jajpur, Kendrapara and Dhenkanal districts. Binjharpur, Bari and Dharmasala blocks in Jajpur, Kamakshyanagar and Bhuban in Dhenkanal and Pattamundai in Kendrapara district were inundated, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) office sources said.
“ODRAF team rescued at least 30 people from the flood waters in Bari block,” SRC BP Sethi said and added that rescue operation was also carried out at Mirzapur under the block.
As Bramhani river was flowing at 68.2 feet near Jenapur against the danger level of 67 feet, the district administration has launched rescue and relief operation in Jajpur, Kendrapara and Dhenkanal districts, the SRC office said.
Three ODRAF and two fire service teams have been pressed into service for rescue and evacuation. At least 18 villages in Kaniha block of Angul and five villages of Bhuban and Gondia blocks of Dhenkanal district have been affected by the flood in Bramhani river.
Though the water level was falling in Subarnarekha river at Jamsolaghat and Rajghat, flood water entered more than 80 villages of Balasore district. Many villages in the district were inundated as flood water was flowing above five feet. The district administrations of Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur and Kendrapara have been kept on alert to meet the situation.
Meanwhile, eight gates of Hirakud reservoir were opened releasing 1,52,746 cusecs of water against an inflow of 94,904 cusecs. The water level in it at 3 pm was 607.45 feet against the full reservoir level of 630 feet.