BALASORE: Floodwater has receded from most parts of Balasore district but 18 low-lying villages in four blocks of Bhograi, Baliapal, Jaleswar and Basta continue to remain submerged.
Officials said the water level of Subarnarekha river at Rajghat stood at 9.15 metre, below the warning mark of 9.45 metre and the danger level of 10.36 metre. Similarly, Jalaka river at Mathani in Basta block was flowing at 5.96 metre, just below the warning level of 6 metre.
Assistant collector and district emergency officer Saikrushna Jena said 18 villages across the four blocks are still reeling under the impact of the flood. So far, 3,810 people have been evacuated, and 16 flood shelters are operational where free kitchens are serving cooked meals.
Flooding caused by the rising Subarnarekha river has submerged roads and cut off connectivity, leaving thousands of residents stranded without access to basic supplies. Bhograi block is the worst affected, with over 11,000 people cut-off from the mainland due to inundation of roads.
Residents have appealed for boat services, drinking water, and food relief. Most families are reportedly surviving on meagre supplies as their cooking equipment and stored rice were damaged in the flood. Villagers of Kumbhirgadi claimed though water tankers arrived, residents could not access them due to lack of boats.
While the water level has begun to recede at Rajghat near Jaleswar, many low-lying areas in the block remain submerged. In Baliapal block, the situation is no better. A key road connecting Harijan Sahi to Talapada and Jamkuda chowk was washed away on Monday morning, despite sandbag reinforcement. Over 260 families in Talapada have been marooned. Though a boat was deployed to facilitate movement to Jamkuda chowk, residents claimed no food was provided by the administration.
Communication between Bishnupur and Baliapal, and Bishnupur and Jamkuda, remains disrupted as roads are submerged under four feet water. In Basta block, floodwater from low-lying areas continue to affect communication across five panchayats.
Official sources said 250 quintal of flattened rice, 25 quintal of jaggery, and 1.39 lakh water bottles have been distributed in the affected areas. Additionally, 12 water tankers are operational under the RWSS, and 51 water sources have been disinfected.