JAJPUR: The situation continues to be grim in Jajpur with flood waters of Brahmani and Kharasrota rivers entering several villages in the district. District officials said while nearly 96,675 people of 112 villages under 52 gram panchayats (GPs) have been affected by the floods, 1,600 people, most of them from Bari block, were shifted to safer places.
Bari has been the worst affected with more than 50,000 people of 43 villages of 18 GPs marooned. Flood waters entered these villages after Brahmani breached its embankment near Banka Sahi in Kimbhiriapal panchayat on Saturday evening.
Communication between Bari-Kalamatia and Baruan-Bari has been snapped as flood water is flowing above 3 ft over the two roads.
Jajpur Collector Ranjan Kumar Das visited some flood-hit areas of Bari on Sunday and directed block officials to set up free kitchens to provide cooked food to the affected people. The Collector said four ODRAF teams, five Fire teams and 16 boats have been deployed in Bari for rescue and relief operations.
“Due to a 60 ft breach in Brahmani river embankment at Banka Sahi, many villages of Bari have been inundated by flood water,” the Collector said and added that no loss of life has been reported in the flood so far.
On the other hand, people, who have taken shelter on highland after flood water entered their houses, are in a pitiable plight without food.
“It is now almost two days since I took shelter on the river embankment with my family after the flood. We are without food since Saturday afternoon as all household items have been damaged,’’ said a flood victim of Kimbhiriapal village.
“No one from the administration has reached us till Sunday evening,” he rued.
Bari BDO Maheswar Sethy said, “We have set up a free kitchen at Mirzapur village in Chandanpur panchayat to provide cooked food to at least 500 flood victims who are taking shelter in a school building.”
People are reluctant to come to the flood shelters leaving behind their homes and belongings, Sethy said and added, “We are trying to provide them flattened rice and jaggery by tonight.”
Official sources said 31 villages in 12 GPs of Korei, 16 villages in eight GPs of Dharmasala, 12 villages of seven GPs of Rasulpur, five villages in four GPs of Binjharpur and five villages in three GPs of Danagadi in the district have been affected by the floods.
Though water level of Brahmani was falling, it was recorded at 68 ft against the danger level of 67 ft at Jenapur. Similarly, Kharasrota river is flowing above the red mark, the sources added.