Even as the torrential rain has stopped lashing North Odisha region since Wednesday morning, flash flood in Subarnarekha, Jalaka, Budhabalanga, Baitarani and its tributaries have affected life in parts of Balasore, Mayurbhanj and Bhadrak districts.
Sources said around 50 villages of the three districts have been affected and two deaths have been reported from Mayurbhanj so far. While an 60-year-old man of Gauda village under Udala block was swept away in Kala tributary on Wednesday, a couple of days back a woman’s body was found floating near Madhuban, on the outskirts of Baripada town.
Northern parts of the State have been witnessing floods due to heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of the rivers. While Jamsedpur has recorded 300 mm in last four days, Fekghat registered highest 513 mm, followed by Ghatsila 435 mm and Jamsola 280 mm. Similarly, the catchment areas of Budhabalang have received over 850 mm rainfall.
Apart from the northern region, people in southern parts of Balasore are apprehensive of flash flood as Kansabansa river which passes through Soro and Simulia blocks is in spate. Water level in rivers like Sono and Gangahar is also rising.
Meanwhile, road links, electricity and telecommunication facilities have been snapped in some parts. Vehicular communication has been disrupted at many places as the water was flowing over some important roads. Bus services were hit on Balasore-Baliapal, Jaleswar-Chandaneswar, Bhogarai-Chandaneswar and Basta-Baliapal road.
River embankments have been breached at different points inundating large tracts of paddy fields in gram panchayats of Baharda, Mathani, Brahmanda, Sadanandapur, Amarda, Nabara, Singla, Routpara, in Basta block, Nahara, Bali, Mahagav, Kharidpipal, Nachinda, Kusuda, Baunsadiha, Panchhi in Bhogarai block, R R Pur, Paschimbad, Sikharpur, Melaka, Baiganbadia and Kantapal in Jaleswar block, Keshpur, Parikhi, Nachinda in Sadar block.
Flood water entered into at least 26,000 acres of agricultural fields in these gram panchayats of Balasore district.
Meanwhile, water level in Subarnarekha river was 10.75 metre at Rajghat while in Jalaka it was 6.25 at Mathani and the water of Baitarini was flowing nearly 0.28 metre above the danger level at Akhuapada in Bhadrak district. Danger level of Subarnarekha is 10.36 metre and Jalaka is 5.50.